LAS VEGAS – A “Platinum” division in which six of the 16 participants won state titles last season highlights the third Tarkanian Classic that gets underway at Bishop Gorman Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 PT.
The event is named in honor of Hall of Fame member Jerry Tarkanian – who coached UNLV teams to four Final Fours and led the Rebels to the 1990 NCAA title, and also guided Long Beach State and Fresno State teams to NCAA tournaments.
Mythical national champion Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei knocked off Oakland (CA) Bishop O’Dowd in the 2013 Platinum finale with the Monarchs also winning the first title in 2012 by toppling the host Bishop Gorman Gaels.
Stanley Johnson, now a standout freshman at the University of Arizona, was the event’s Most Outstanding Player in each instance.
Coach Gary McKnight’s Mater Dei squad isn’t in this field (the Monarchs are in Ft. Myers, FL, this week for the City of Palms Classic, as is another of the West’s best squads from Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, CA).
The 2014 state champions in the Platinum bracket are the host Gaels; Philadelphia Constitution; Highland (UT) Lone Peak; West Linn (OR); Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian; and Putnam City (OK) West.
Bishop Gorman, already beaten by a couple of California-based squads (O’Dowd, as well as Jesuit of Carmichael), opens against Los Angeles Windward in the first round Wednesday (5:50 p.m.).
The Gaels have probable 2015 McDonald’s All-American selections in posts Chase Jeter (who signed with Duke last month) and Stephen Zimmerman (unsigned with the likes of UNLV, Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona and UCLA in the mix).
Windward, under first-year Coach Steve Smith, is 6-0 after winning the L.A. University Tournament last weekend.
The Wildcats have one of the best unsigned seniors in the West in 6-foot-7 Roman Davis, as well as an exceptional sophomore (guard Jalen Harris, the MVP at the University tourney) and freshman (swingman Jules Bernard).
There are two Westwind freshmen with exceptional NBA bloodlines: Shareef O’Neal (son of Shaq) and Cyrus Johnson (son of Marques).
At least three of the other seven first-round games in the division promise to be both competitive and entertaining.
In the 12:30 opener, Constitution, led by George Mason-bound forward Ahmad Gilbert and Kimar Williams, considered the top point guard in Philly, faces a squad from the other side of the country.
Redondo Beach Redondo, which finished fourth in the Platinum Division last December, is expected to be one of the better teams in Southern California with exceptional underclass prospects in junior guard Leland Green and sophomore post Billy Preston.
At 1:50, Lone Peak – which has one of the best shooting guards in the Class of 2016 in Frank Jackson – takes on West Linn, which has one of the country’s best backcourt in junior Payton Prichard (committed to Oklahoma) and senior Anthony Mathis (a New Mexico signee)/
And Chino Hills and El Cajon Foothills Christian, Southern California teams led by juniors who have already committed to Pac 12 Conference programs (Lonzo Ball to UCLA and T.J. Leaf to Arizona, respectively), hook up at 4:30.
Sixteen teams apiece will also compete for championships in the Premier and Select Divisions in the event, which wraps up Saturday at Gorman.
Some of the better “prep school” squads in the country will also play select games over the four days, most notably Findlay Prep of nearby Henderson – led by guards Allonzo Trier and Derryck Thornton – as well as Texas-based teams Dallas Prime Prep and Houston Victory Prep and a newly created program in Napa (CA), Prolific Prep, which has an exceptional junior in Josh Jackson.
Be sure to follow my @FrankieBur Twitter feed and www.burlisononbasketball.com website for updates and wrap-ups during and after each day of the event.
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