Tarkanian Classic Night One: Players Who Turned Heads

Night one of the Tarkanian Classic set the tone, with a number of players stepping up and delivering standout performances.    I first watched Tyran Frazier at the Pangos All-American Camp this summer, where he impressed with monster dunks that had fans out of their seats.   Last night, what stood out most was his feel for the game and his consistent impact on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he ran the court hard, made himself a reliable target for his guards, and scored in a variety of ways, including a floater, a tough reverse layup, and a couple of dunks. Defensively, he used his length and athleticism to protect the rim, swatting two shots. All in all, Frazier has an incredibly high ceiling, and I expect more college coaches to be reaching out soon.   Stats - 14 Points And 4 Rebounds Against Drive Academy     Taylen Kinney used his speed, IQ, and scoring prowess to pour in 16 points in RWE's win over Drive Academy. He has the ability to get downhill in the blink of an eye and delivered a powerful dunk that turned heads throughout the gym. He also knows how to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. Expect the Kansas commit to continue making highlight-reel plays this winter.   Additional Stats - 5 Rebounds and 5 Assists     [player_tooltip player_id='2370258' first='Dino' last='Roberts'] emptied the tank in Bishop Gorman's matchup against Layton Christian Academy. He played with hunger on the offensive end, constantly searching for even the smallest cracks in the defense to exploit. His instincts and grit led to several tough baskets, and he also got to the free-throw line frequently. Despite the loss, I liked how hard he competed and battled throughout the game.   Stats - 10 Points     Miles Sadler was perhaps the most entertaining prospect to watch on night one of the Tarkanian Classic. He was an absolute force on offense, consistently making defenses pay when given too much space on the perimeter. I also liked how he applied constant pressure by burning defenders and generating plenty of paint touches. His assertiveness and clutch shot-making played a major role in Bella Vista Prep's win over Dynamic Prep.   Stats - 29 Points, 3 Assists, 2 Rebounds, 2 Steals     Paul Osaruyi made his presence felt throughout the game yesterday. He showed patience on the defensive end, waiting for the right moment to contest shots with his length and timing. That discipline led to a couple of blocks while also altering several other attempts. Beyond his stout defense, he scored inside by finishing over defenders and snagging rebounds. Overall, he checks about every box and he performed very well against the #1 2027 Marcus Spears Jr.   Stats - 6 Points, 9 Rebounds, 5 Blocks     Javon Bardwell's top highlight against Drive Academy may have been when he threw down an alley-oop off a pass from Taylen Kinney. He also did damage from the perimeter, knocking down shots from the outside. Defensively, Bardwell made opponents uncomfortable with his wingspan and constant energy. Overall, he was consistently making plays on both ends of the floor, and it's easy to see why he's headed to the next level as a Kansas commit.   Stats - 16 Points and 9 Rebounds Against Drive Academy     Hunter McGraw helped Dynamic Prep ignite a near comeback against Bella Vista. He caught fire from beyond the arc, quickly trimming the deficit. And also found ways to get to the rim and earn trips to the free-throw line. Although Dynamic Prep didn't come away with the win, his high level offensive skill was very evident.   Stats - 15 Points, 3 Assists, 3 Rebounds     LCA small forward, Nicola Janicic is a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, connecting on three triples over the course of the game. At 6'6, his size and high release point make his shot difficult to contest, allowing him to capitalize on most of his chances. And he also had a nice steal that he then took the rest of the way for an easy 2.   Stats - 11 Points     Dakari Spear kept Dynamic Prep within striking distance with his sharp shooting from long range. He used his consistent stroke to knock down tough shots and also frustrated the defense with his ability to put the ball on the floor. His multifaceted offensive game makes him a tough cover, and he capped it off by going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Look for him to be a serious hooper at Texas Tech.   Stats - 20 Points     Emilis Zubida was another prospect with size and scoring ability. He was able to tally a few 2 point shots for LCA, including a big dunk. He also caught my eye when he made a 3-pointer. With his upside, their could be coaches who may want to take a closer look at him.     Garang Machol and Drive Academy made the long trip from Finland to compete in the Tarkanian Classic. Standing at 6'9", Machol was hard to miss, playing with noticeable intensity and effort. I liked how he went toe-to-toe with RWE's talented forwards and centers. With his height and upside, he could develop into an even stronger prospect down the line.

Night one of the Tarkanian Classic set the tone, with a number of players stepping up and delivering standout performances.