Tarkanian Classic: 2025 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>December 16th-22nd I attended the annual&nbsp;<strong>Tarkanian Classic</strong>&nbsp;at Bishop Gorman HS and neighboring high schools in Nevada.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were over 200 teams in the long week. 70+ Prep teams and 125+ in the High School division. Arizona teams invaded Las Vegas and some of them held their own quite well.&nbsp;<strong>Desert Mountain</strong>&nbsp;actually made it to the Finals of the top bracket but came up short.&nbsp;<strong>Notre Dame Prep</strong>&nbsp;won 3rd place in the 2nd toughest division. Both actually had in-game injuries in their lone losses.&nbsp;<strong>Higley</strong>&nbsp;also managed to get 2nd place in a different bracket and finally&nbsp;<strong>Sandra Day</strong>&nbsp;finished 3-1 and had their lone loss by only 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were some of the standout juniors I viewed:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231510' first='Marcus' last='McDonald'] Bella Vista Prep (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring guard keeps improving. He can shoot the catch three and his mid-range pull-up is slowly becoming a weapon for the next level. He smartly hesitates to burst into the paint. He looked more aggressive this weekend scoring the ball and it was probably his best showing in the uniform.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385291' first='Jeremiah' last='Fears'] AZ Compass Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring lead guard has that next level yo-yo handle. The ball is on a string with him and he is that next level new age scoring PG. He can thread the needle to find teammates plus throwing it down on the break and shoot the three.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217315' first='TayVion' last='Wilson'] Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson just got back from the AIA transfer rule and played well. He can rattle in catch threes and score on speed dribble layups. He can side step and shoot the three and is quicker then you realize.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1491233' first='Will' last='Feagles'] Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic shooting guard who can throw it down. He rebounds well and can shoot the three off the catch. He shows good body control in the lane with contested shots or reverse layups.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1333492' first='Michael' last='Simcoe'] Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A heavily talked about player had a good showing in the HS division. He is a true face-up four man who can dribble drive after a ball fake and score in heavy traffic. He has a pretty stroke from mid to the three. He runs in transition and can dunk it easily. He has an impressive spin into a drop step dunk and his footwork seems to be improving game to game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1366003' first='Jaden' last='Vance'] Bella Vista Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long wing keeps improving his skill. He hits step backs from mid-range and can catch lob alley-oop dunks. He is a catch shooter or has the 1-2 dribble pull-up as a shot maker. His length and size bothers his opponents on defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297427' first='AJ' last='Thomas'] Eduprize&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A thick, athletic and stronger PG. Not many spray it around as well as him. Up the court passes on a rope then he can euro down the lane and throw a dart in stride with his left or right hand<strong>. </strong>He often crosses over his defender into a pull-up mid-range. He takes contact so well and is quick in the passing lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225690' first='Calvin' last='Murphy III'] Dream City Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calvin Murphy grandson is a pure PG who makes the game look easy. He will throw it down the court, drive and kicks and slips it into a post player. He can shoot the three and has a nice mid-range jumper.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150843' first='Andrew' last='Bhesania'] Boulder Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A fluid forward who faces up from mid to the three. He handles the ball unusually well for his size. A rare kid who will take the ball off the glass and go coast to coast and score or make a play for a teammate. He is very crafty in the paint with body control and skill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996176' first='Bryce' last='Quinet'] Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger PG is a great passer and has a high feel for the game. He can hit the deep three plus post up inside with his stronger frame. He has a polished tear drop in the lane and gets downhill with his tight handle and strong upper body strength and takes a bump well to score.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->