Previewing the Colorado Teams in the Tarkanian Classic
The Tarkanian Classic is set to get underway and we have a few Colorado teams that will be in the mix and competing in Las Vegas, Nevada against some of the best teams in the country. Here we break down…
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Continue ReadingThe Tarkanian Classic is set to get underway and we have a few Colorado teams that will be in the mix and competing in Las Vegas, Nevada against some of the best teams in the country. Here we break down some of our top teams in the state that begins their games on Wednesday and how they will fare while out there.
Platinum Division
Overland
Overland went into the season as one of the top teams in the state as far as preseason rankings and have been a mixed bag to start the season. Overland just suffered their first loss of the season to a very good Columbine team but cannot take a huge knock as they have been without their best player and a top 5 player in the state in Graham Ike. It is not certain that he will not play in the Tarkanian Classic but my guess is he will give it a go and see how much that he can play. If not, good luck for this team as they are up against a very good forward who is capable of beating them by himself. Overland is in the top division and will need his 6’10 frame to compete with the other big teams. He is averaging a double-double on the year and players such as Trevon Deden 10.3 points and Vincas Veikalas (9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) also stepping up and helping in other areas they should be good to go.
They are first up against an 8-1 St. Augustine team from San Diego that had the best overall record last season in the San Diego Section Division 1 and are off to another hot start. Small forward and Texas Tech commit Chibuzo Agbo Jr. is who the Trailblazers will have to go up against and he means business. He is a 6’7 forward that will attack in every single way and exploit matchups. Overland will have to find a way to put points up on the board if they plan on picking up some wins.
Orleans
Grandview
Grandview is a team that can have some success out in Vegas but it all depends on how well the others step up. One thing that you know that you are going to get from the Wolves is a well-coached team that is going to control the tempo, take away your best player and pass until they get the shot it is that they want. Caleb McGill and Lian Ramiro continue to be the heart and souls of the team that gets it done on both sides of the ball. The 6’7 McGill is at 18.5 points a game and 6.5 rebounds to go along with it. He can terrorize a team from the inside but also can extend the defense with his outside shot while also defending the opposing team’s best big man. He should be one of the top players in the division. Ramiro has been one of the most improved players in the state this season and is at 17.3 points a game. He has shot the ball well, he is difficult to contain in 1-on-1 situations and he is a high IQ guard that gets the team in their offense and is the pace controller. Tanner Holtman (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is starting to come into his own and find a rhythm. They will need him to be the sharp-shooter and rebounder that he has been as if late with hopeful big games by Cade Coles, CJ Thomas and Jakob Haug getting into the mix.
Overland is first up against an undefeated and high scoring (84.0 ppg) Arbor View (Las Vegas) team that wants to run teams out of the water. Donovan Yap (24.0 ppg, 6.0 apg) is a 6’4 UNLV commit and No.5 player in Las Vegas that has dominated to begin the season, alongside him is one of the best two-way players in the state in Larry Holmes who is putting up 18.3 points and 2.3 steals a game. This will be quite the test for Grandview who will surely have their hands full.
Valor Christian
Valor is 2-1 on the season and is coming off of a loss to Smoky Hill where it looked as if they were going to pull it off but didn’t capitalize down the stretch. They now head to Vegas to look to right the ship. For the Eagles, it has been one of the best football players in the state in future D1 linemen Roger Rosengarten leading the way yet again. The 6’7 275 pounder is a force on the hardwood as well as he is leading the team with 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Combo guard Amondo Miller has also stepped up at 10.7 points and 4.3 rebounds as a player that the Eagles can rely on in the scoring department but it comes down to if they will get big games from AJ Kula, Cole Bott and Rocky Beers who are all players that are capable of huge games and I feel that an explosion is coming from one of them. Valor has the size and guard play to compete with any team in the state but takes that on the road as they represent the state against some very good talent in the Tarkanian.
Valor Christian is up against Miramar from Florida. Miramar is 7-1 on the season and led by Senior guard Brent Davis who committed to Citadel for college and is averaging 16.8 points and over five rebounds a game. He is one of the best defenders in the state that wants to attack the basket so Valor will have to find an answer to slowing him down. Sophomore standout Faheim Saintleger Meran (12.2 ppg) and Deshawn Jean-Charles (11.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) have been great as well.