Friday’s Best Nevada 4A Playoff Performances

<p>So far the Nevada 4A playoffs have been a spectacle. There have been so many great team and individual performances and the level of play has been extremely high. Friday's playoff games were no short of extraordinary it was a mixed bag of everything we saw two overtime thrillers and an amazing triple-double performance. Friday was an example of why Nevada is really starting to get its respect as a basketball state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donavan-yap/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donavan-yap/">Donavan Yap</a></a> 6’2 SG Arbor View 2020 (#1 PHN 2020)</strong>  – Yap has been great his whole career. Yap typically saves  some of his largest scoring outburst for the biggest games. Friday was an example of that as he tore through a Las Vegas Wildcat team that has had a great year. Yap's pure will and determination was a huge reason for Arbor View's win. Yap led the game in scoring with 35 points. He was able to do what he wanted out there as he got to the free throw line 14 times. Yap went 13/14 from the line hitting 92%. For me he set the tone for the game by being able to get to the line at will. Yap is locked in and division rivals Faith Lutheran is next up in the semifinals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-strawther/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-strawther/">Julian Strawther</a></a> 6’6 SF Liberty 2020 (#2 PHN 2020)</strong> – Strawther continues to show why he may be the best player to come from Liberty in the past 15 years. Strawther was a leader in every since of the word. Liberty was able to hold off a strong resilient performance from a game Spring Valley team. Liberty won on a last second tip in from Moliki Motavo one of their football stars and that was the go ahead bucket in a 71-69 victory. Strawther led Liberty with 26 points. As far as Strawther is concerned the game was a great look at his competitive nature he was a willing attacker, scoring from the lane, off runners, and in post-up situations. Strawther will look to  add on to his high school legend as Liberty will square off with Bishop Gorman next in the semi-finals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-hunter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-hunter/">Anthony Hunter</a></a> 5’11 PG Durango 2020 (#6 PHN 2020)</strong> – Tone Hunter has always been a tempo changing two way guard. Hunter can impact the game with his on-ball defense. Hunter led his team with 26 points in a strong 71-62 win against Foothill. I once heard him referred to as a  "microwave type" scorer. Meaning once he gets hot he is ready. Hunter displayed quick hands and relentless leadership in the contest. His back court running mate <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-mack/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-mack/">Sebastian Mack</a></a> also chipped in with 19 points. However, Tone set the Tone in this one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jason Sims 6’3 PG Faith Lutheran 2020(#81 PHN 2020) </strong>– In another overtime thriller Faith Lutheran was able to fend off Canyon Springs. Faith Lutheran trailed by as many as nine points going into the second half. However, they were able to fend off their foe with strong performances from a number of contributors.  Sims was able to hit a number of clutch shots going for 22 points. Sims is a quick decisive driver that plays faster than he is. The game came down to clutch free throws that his back court mate Nick Attanasio was able to hit with ice water in his veins which sets up a semi-finals match against division rival Arbor View.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/">Jaden Hardy</a></a> 6’4 PG Coronado 2021 (#1PHN 2021) –</strong> What is there to say about <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/">Jaden Hardy</a></a> that hasn’t already been said? I will continue to start all my writings about him that way. Jaden arguably had the performance of the weekend with an insane triple-double. Hardy already had a 62 point game this season. It's hard to top a 62 point performance in a comeback win. Hardy followed that up with 38 points 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a great win against Silverado. Hardy could do no wrong in this game. His court vision was insane. What impressed me the most is he knew when to score and when to facilitate. Hardy's basketball IQ is off the charts. His overall skills sets him apart from most players. He maybe the most NBA caliber prospect in the state.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>