Colorado shines under bright Las Vegas lights
Colorado is out to prove, each and every year, that it has what it takes to compete on a national basketball scale. Head-turning performances from a number of Centennial State teams and players at the Tarkanian Classic this week certainly…
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Continue ReadingColorado is out to prove, each and every year, that it has what it takes to compete on a national basketball scale.
Head-turning performances from a number of Centennial State teams and players at the Tarkanian Classic this week certainly doesn’t hurt.
Defending Class 5A champion Overland defeated host Bishop Gorman 58-56 on Saturday to win the Platinum Division title at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.The tournament, named for the late, great UNLV coach, featured some of the top high school programs out West, but none was more impressive than the Trailblazers.
Overland’s 6-foot-1 point guard Jervae Robinson was a force all week long, according to a host of national media members and scouts in attendance. Thriving on both the offensive and defensive ends, Robinson has seen his stock rise in dramatic fashion since returning to Colorado after a year spent at a hoops academy in Oklahoma, and it seems as if it hit a high at the loaded Vegas tournament.
Robinson won MVP honors of the tournament, scoring 16 points in the title game an assisting De’Ron Davis (20 points) for the winning basket with four seconds left.
Jervae Robinson a well-deserved MVP trophy to take back to Colorado. Tremendous each game. #TarkClassic
— Frank Burlison (@FrankieBur) December 20, 2015
Robinson, who is attracting heavy recruiting attention from a number low- to mid-major Division I schools, can likely expect plenty more attention after such a strong performance in Vegas.
Meanwhile, Davis took the challenge of facing talented Gonzaga commit Zach Collins head on. Check out this great video from Courtside Films on the great big men doing battle
Bertolette scorching
Robinson, Davis and the Trailblazers certainly weren’t the only ones with Colorado connections making big noise in Sin City.
Fossil Ridge’s 6-2 junior guard Braxton Bertolette put a performance he won’t soon forget. The sharpshooter, who was Prep Hoops Colorado’s first Player of the Week this season, scored a school-record 48 points on an unreal 16 3-pointers. Bertolette was 11-of-12 from downtown in the first half alone.
There isn’t a player in the state who can get it going when he heats up like Bertolette. Heck, there isn’t a guy in many states.
As good a high school jump shooter as there is in the West. https://t.co/XimufXy23O
— Frank Burlison (@FrankieBur) December 19, 2015
Bertolette’s performance helped the Sabercats win the consolation bracket of the Premier Division.
Jaguars keep rolling
Perhaps a lopsided, season-opening loss to Eaglecrest was a blessing in disguise for Rock Canyon. Ever since that setback, the Jaguars have been cruising. Behind strong performances from Sam Masten and Isaac Hirsch, who were both named to the division’s all-tournament team, Rock Canyon made it all the way to the Select Division title game before falling to Cathedral Catholic out of California.
Masten, the No. 2 player in our 2018 class, drew rave reviews for his play.
One of the better 2018 PGs out west is 6-2 Sam Masten (Rock Canyon,Co.)..Heady lefty.. changes speeds..vision..shoots it..#TarkanianClassic
— Joel Francisco (@JoelFranHoops) December 19, 2015