2013 Tarkanian Classic: Hoop Stars Ready to Shine Under Vegas' Bright Lights
By Ronnie Flores, Special to Tarkanian Classic
After a successful inaugural event last December, the Tarkanian Classic is arguably the premier pre-Christmas tournament of 2013. Seven teams ranked in the preseason Student Sports FAB 50 national rankings will make an appearance, highlighted by No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), the defending Platinum Division champion, and No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) in the new prep school division.
In just its second year, the Tarkanian Classic has quickly become an elite holiday tournament. In last year’s Platinum Division final, eventual CIF Open Division champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) defeated eventual NIAA Division I champion and host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 76-60, behind a 23-point, 13-rebound performance from tourney MVP Stanley Johnson.
Johnson is back for Mater Dei, ranked No. 6 in the preseason Student Sports FAB 50 national rankings. The Monarchs and No. 9 Bishop Gorman could once again meet in the Platinum Division final. The Platinum Division field also includes FAB 50 No. 31 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) and No. 41 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.).
"Coming into a national tournament like Tarkanian, you always can make your mark," Johnson said. "Last year was last year, however, and this is a new team. We are just going to take it one game at a time and work our way through the tournament."
In last year's final, highly touted Bishop Gorman junior Stephen Zimmerman attempted only four field goals, making one, and finished with seven points. That didn't sit well with the locals so expect "Big Zimm" to make a much bigger impact on the outcome of this year's Platinum bracket. Similar to Johnson, Zimmerman is a bonafide Mr. Basketball USA national player of the year candidate.
Mater Dei has Lone Peak on its side of the Platinum bracket and Bishop Gorman has Bishop O'Dowd on its side. If Bishop O'Dowd, which finished last season in fifth place courtesy of its 50-46 victory over Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.), can have another strong performance, a potential semifinal could pit Zimmerman against Bishop O'Dowd's Ivan Rabb, a 6-foot-9 junior forward. Both are considered top five prospects nationally in the 2015 class.
In 2012-13, Lone Peak had a historic season from a national perspective for a program from a non-power state, finishing No. 4 in the Student Sports FAB 50. Only one starter is back, but it's BYU commit Tyler Haws and he and transfer Frank Jackson will make Lone Peak a tough out. Haws has big-game experience and media and national scouts will get their first extended look at Jackson, one of the better players on the West Coast in the 2016 class.
The best first round matchup in the Platinum Division likely will be Lone Peak versus Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.), the No. 2 preseason ranked team in Northern California behind Bishop O'Dowd. Forward Anthony Townes, one of the West Coast's better 2015 prospects, leads Modesto Christian. The winner is likely to face defending CIF Division II state champion Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) in the quarterfinals.
Including Mater Dei (No. 1) and Bishop O’Dowd (No. 5), the Platinum Division field includes seven clubs ranked in the preseason by CalHiSports.com, California’s leading authority for team rankings. Included are No. 9 Modesto Christian, No. 10 El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), No. 11 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), No. 12 Long Beach Poly and No. 34 Sheldon (Sacramento).
In last year's tournament, Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) reached the semifinals before falling to Mater Dei, 55-39. This year, that club returns as part of the inaugural Prep School Division, a series of games that will showcase some of the nation's best players. FAB 50 No. 2 Findlay Prep headlines the Prep School Division, which includes No. 13 Prime Prep (Dallas) and No. 18 La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) in addition to traditional national power Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.).
On Friday, December 20th, at the Orleans Arena, four featured games of the Tarkanian Classic will include the Platinum Division semifinals and two of the best matchups in the prep division loaded with future D1 players. That evening, former UNLV and Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian, for whom the tournament is named after, will be honored for his accomplishments in high school, junior college and major college basketball.
Headliners playing at the 2013 Tarkanian Classic include:
2014
Emmanuel Mudiay, Prime Prep
Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei
T.J. Haws, Lone Peak
Rashad Vaughn, Findlay Prep
Kelly Oubre, Findlay Prep
Jalen Coleman, La Lumiere
Craig Victor, Findlay Prep
Sam Logwood, La Lumiere
Jonah Bolden, Findlay Prep
Kobie Eubanks, Our Savor New American
Evan Wardlow, El Camino Real
Julian Richardson, El Camino Real
Terrell Carter, Redondo Union
Ian Fox, Redondo Union
Chris Sullivan, Long Beach Poly
Mario Soto, Mater Dei
Noah Robotham, Bishop Gorman
2015
Stephen Zimmerman, Bishop Gorman
Chase Jeter, Bishop Gorman
Ivan Rabb, Bishop O’Dowd
Check Diallo, Our Savior New American
Joseph Toye, La Lumiere
Allonzo Trier, Montrose Christian
Horace Spencer, Findlay Prep
Anthony Townes, Modesto Christian
Rex Pflueger, Mater Dei
Paris Austin, Bishop O'Dowd
Trey Belton, Sheldon
2016
T.J. Leaf, Foothills Christian
Terrence Ferguson, Prime Prep
Justin Jackson, Findlay Prep
Frank Jackson, Lone Peak
Derrick Thornton Jr., Findlay Prep
Michael Cage Jr., Mater Dei
Kassoum Yakwe, Our Savior New American
Christian Ellis, Modesto Christian
Leland Green, Redondo Union
2013 Tarkanian Classic Schedule
(Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
(Bishop Gorman Main)
5:00 pm: Lynwood (Calif.) vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (Platinum 1)
6:30 pm: Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (Platinum 2)
8:00 pm: #2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) vs. Atlanta Sports Academy (Atlanta) (Prep)
Thursday, December 19, 2013
(Bishop Gorman Main)
2:00 pm: Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) vs. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) (Platinum 3)
3:20 pm: Winner Platinum 1 vs. Sheldon (Sacramento) (Platinum 4)
4:40 pm: Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) vs. Durango (Las Vegas) (Platinum 5)
6:00 pm: Winner Platinum 2 vs. Clark (Las Vegas) (Platinum 8)
7:20 pm: Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) vs. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) (Platinum 10)
8:40 pm: Prime Prep (Dallas) vs. Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) (Prep)
(Bishop Gorman Aux)
12:30 pm: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) JV vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) JV
2:00 pm: Loser Platinum 2 vs. Chaparral (Las Vegas) (Gold 3)
3:20 pm: Loser Platinum 1 vs. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) (Gold 4)
4:40 pm: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) vs. Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) (Platinum 9)
6:00 pm: El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.) vs. Bountiful (Utah) (Platinum 6)
7:20 pm: Constitution (Philadelphia) vs. Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) (Platinum 7)
8:40 pm: Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) vs. Atlanta Sports Academy (Atlanta) (Prep)
(Faith Lutheran, Las Vegas)
2:00 pm: Orem (Utah) vs. Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) (Gold 1)
3:20 pm: ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) vs. Legacy (North Las Vegas, Nev.) (Gold 2)
4:40 pm: Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) vs. San Bernardino (Calif.) (Gold 5)
6:00 pm: Ambridge (Pa.) vs. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) (Gold 6)
7:20 pm: Timpview (Provo, Utah) vs. Muir (Pasadena, Calif.) (Gold 7)
8:40 pm: Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh, Pa.) vs. Cheyenne (North Las Vegas, Nev.) (Gold 8)
Friday, December 20, 2013
(Bishop Gorman Main)
10:00 am: Winner Platinum 3 vs. Winner Platinum 4 (Platinum 12)
11:20 am: Winner Platinum 5 vs. Winner Platinum 6 (Platinum 14)
12:40 pm: Winner Platinum 7 vs. Winner Platinum 8 (Platinum 16)
2:00 pm: Winner Platinum 9 vs. Winner Platinum 10 (Platinum 18)
3:20 pm: Trinity International (Las Vegas) vs. La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) (Prep)
4:40 pm: Loser Platinum 12 vs. Loser Platinum 14 (Platinum 21)
6:00 pm: Loser Platinum 16 vs. Loser Platinum 18 (Platinum 25)
7:20 pm: Winner Gold 10 vs. Winner Gold 12 (Gold 22)
8:40 pm: Winner Gold 14 vs. Winner Gold 16 (Gold 24)
(Bishop Gorman Aux)
10:00 am: Loser Platinum 3 vs. Loser Platinum 4 (Platinum 11)
11:20 am: Loser Platinum 5 vs. Loser Platinum 6 (Platinum 13)
12:40 pm: Loser Platinum 7 vs. Loser Platinum 8 (Platinum 15)
2:00 pm: Loser Platinum 9 vs. Loser Platinum 10 (Platinum 17)
3:20 pm: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) JV vs. South Australia 2
4:40 pm: Winner Platinum 11 vs. Winner Platinum 13 (Platinum 20)
6:00 pm: Winner Platinum 15 vs. Winner Platinum 17 (Platinum 22)
7:20 pm: Loser Gold 10 vs. Loser Gold 12 (Gold 19)
8:40 pm: Loser Gold 14 vs. Loser Gold 16 (Gold 23)
(Faith Lutheran, Las Vegas)
10:00 am: Winner Gold 1 vs. Winner Gold 2 (Gold 10)
11:20 am: Winner Gold 3 vs. Winner Gold 4 (Gold 12)
12:40 pm: Winner Gold 5 vs. Winner Gold 6 (Gold 14)
2:00 pm: Winner Gold 7 vs. Winner Gold 8 (Gold 16)
3:20 pm: Loser Gold 1 vs. Loser Gold 2 (Gold 9)
4:40 pm: Loser Gold 3 vs. Loser Gold 4 (Gold 11)
6:00 pm: Loser Gold 5 vs. Loser Gold 6 (Gold 13)
7:20 pm: Loser Gold 7 vs. Loser Gold 8 (Gold 15)
(Durango, Las Vegas)
4:40 pm: South Australia 1 vs. Atlanta Sports Academy (Atlanta) (Prep)
6:00 pm: Loser Platinum 11 vs. Loser Platinum 13 (Platinum 19)
7:20 pm: Loser Platinum 15 vs. Loser Platinum 17 (Platinum 23)
(Orleans Arena -- Orleans Casino)
3:00 pm: Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) vs. Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) (Prep)
5:00 pm: Prime Prep (Dallas) vs. Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) (Prep)
7:00 pm: Winner Platinum 12 vs. Winner Platinum 14 (Platinum 24)
9:00 pm: Winner Platinum 16 vs. Winner Platinum 18 (Platinum 26)
Saturday, December 21, 2013
(Bishop Gorman Main)
8:30 am: Loser Platinum 19 vs. Loser Platinum 23 (Platinum 27)
9:50 am: Winner Platinum 19 vs. Winner Platinum 23 (Platinum 28)
11:10 am: Winner Platinum 21 vs. Winner Platinum 25 (Platinum 31 -- Fifth Place)
12:30 pm: Winner Platinum 20 vs. Winner Platinum 22 (Platinum 32 -- Consolation Title)
1:50 pm: Winner Gold 22 vs. Winner Gold 24 (Gold 32)
3:10 pm: La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) vs. Prime Prep (Dallas) (Prep)
4:30 pm: Loser Platinum 24 vs. Loser Platinum 26 (Platinum 33 -- Third Place)
6:00 pm: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) vs. Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) (Prep)
7:30 pm: Winner Platinum 24 vs. Winner Platinum 26 (Platinum 34 -- Championship)
(Bishop Gorman Aux)
8:30 am: Winner Gold 9 vs. Winner Gold 11 (Gold 18)
9:50 am: Winner Gold 13 vs. Winner Gold 15 (Gold 20)
11:10 am: Loser Platinum 20 vs. Loser Platinum 22 (Platinum 29)
12:30 pm: Loser Platinum 21 vs. Loser Platinum 25 (Platinum 30)
1:50 pm: Loser Gold 22 vs. Loser Gold 24 (Gold 31)
3:10 pm: Loser Gold 18 vs. Loser Gold 20 (Gold 27)
4:30 pm: Atlanta Sports Academy (Atlanta) vs. Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) (Prep)
6:00 pm: Winner Gold 18 vs. Winner Gold 20 (Gold 30)
7:30 pm: Winner Gold 17 vs. Winner Gold 21 (Gold 26)
(Faith Lutheran, Las Vegas)
8:30 am: Loser Gold 9 vs. Loser Gold 11 (Gold 17)
9:50 am: Loser Gold 13 vs. Loser Gold 15 (Gold 21)
11:10 am: Loser Gold 19 vs. Loser Gold 23 (Gold 28)
12:30 pm: Winner Gold 19 vs. Winner Gold 23 (Gold 29)
1:50 pm: Loser Gold 17 vs. Loser Gold 21 (Gold 25)
3:10 pm: South Australia 1 vs. Trinity International (Las Vegas) (Prep)
4:30 pm: South Australia 2 vs. TBA
Sunday, December 22, 2013
(Bishop Gorman Main)
12:00 pm: Atlanta Sports Academy (Atlanta) vs. Prime Prep (Dallas) (Prep)
1:30 pm: Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) vs. Trinity International (Las Vegas) (Prep)
Note: Second team listed is the home team and will wear white.
