2013 Tarkanian Classic Day 1 Recap

LAS VEGAS – The abbreviated “first day” of the second annual Tarkanian Classic tipped off in impressive – if relatively lopsided – fashion Wednesday at Bishop Gorman High.

The host Gaels and the Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Monarchs– who played for the title in the Platinum Division finale a year ago – opened with 20- and 39-point victories, respectively – in Platinum games Wednesday evening.

Then, in a Prep School Division contest, Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep – after an hour or so delay while their opponents made their way to the gym after a late arrival at McCarran Airport from Atlanta – cruised with a litany of dunks and dazzling passes.

Once the Faith Baptist Christian Academy Crusaders arrived, got dressed and warmed up, it didn’t take long for the sport’s most gifted “prep school” squad to show off its considerable talent en route to a 79-48 victory.

McDonald’s All-American candidates Kelly Oubre (who signed with Kansas last month), Craig Victor (a future University of Arizona Wildcat) and Rashad Vaughn (the nation’s top shooting guard prospect in the Class of 2014/he remains unsigned and uncommitted to a college) all did pretty much anything they wanted, as did superior sophomore guard Derryck Thornton Jr.

Lynwood got a game-high 22 points from guard Kevin Miller but Bishop Gorman had way too much size, skill, shooting and depth for the team from Southern California.

Senior guard Noah Robotham (16 points) continued the impressive jump shooting he displayed during events in Chicago and Phoenix the past two weekends for Coach Grant Rice’s Gaels.

And junior posts Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter added 16 and 15, respectively.

In the second game of the evening, sophomore forward T.J. Leaf was spectacular early and pretty much throughout for El Cajon (CA) Foothills Christian en route to a 25-point, seven-rebound effort.

But Coach Gary McKnight’s Monarchs – who beat the Gaels for the championship a year ago – had too much for the Knights.

And there was especially way too much Stanley Johnson (42 points on 16 of 24 from the field), another Arizona Wildcat-to-be on the premises for this event, as well as way too much Michael Cage Jr., the sophomore post who scored 16 points and grabbed as many rebounds.

Everyone gets involved in the event on Thursday.

The top squad in Northern California, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd – led by the best junior in California, Ivan Rabb – opens in the Platinum Division against Las Vegas Durango at 4:40 p.m. (PT).

The complete Platinum, Gold and Prep School Division schedules for Thursday at Bishop Gorman:

Platinum and Gold: (BG Main Gym) 2 p.m., Long Beach (CA) Poly vs. Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian; 3:20, Bishop Gorman vs. Sacramento (CA) Sheldon; 4:40, Oakland (CA) Bishop O’Dowd vs. Las Vegas Durango; 6, Mater Dei vs. Las Vegas Clark; 7:20, Redondo Beach (CA) Redondo vs. Portland (OR) Central Catholic . (BG Auxiliary Gym) 2 p.m., Foothills Christian vs. Las Vegas Chaparral; 3:20, Lynwood vs. Erie (PA) Cathedral Prep; 4:40, Highland (UT) Lone Peak vs. Modesto (CA) Christian; 6, Woodland Hills (CA) El Camino Real vs. Bountiful (UT); 7:20, Phoenix Pinnacle vs. Philadelphia Constitution.

Prep: (BG Main Gym) 8:40, Dallas Prime Prep vs. Centerreach (NY) Our Savior; (BG Aux Gym) 8:40, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian vs. Atlanta Sports Academy.

Leave a comment