Tarkanian Classic: 2022 National Evaluations (Pt. 1)
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LAS VEGAS — In our previous coverage of the Tarkanian Classic, we dove into the top players from California who performed well in Vegas, but in this piece we wanted to branch out a bit and take a closer look…
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Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS — In our previous coverage of the Tarkanian Classic, we dove into the top players from California who performed well in Vegas, but in this piece we wanted to branch out a bit and take a closer look at players outside the state who put together strong efforts at the event. Here are the standout seniors in this category.
Brandon Walker Brandon Walker 6'6" | PF Faith Family Academy | 2022 State TX , Faith Family (TX) – Walker is a strong and skilled four-man who had multiple dominant performances as an interior scorer and offensive rebounder. The 6-foot-7 UT-Arlington-bound forward knows how to use his strong frame to create space and finish through contact, has great hands when catching bounce or lob passes out of screen-roll action and is adept at establishing and holding deep post position while providing his guards a big target for post-entry passes.
Darrion Williams Darrion Williams 6'6" | SF Bishop Gorman | 2022 State NV , Bishop Gorman (NV) – Williams led Bishop Gorman to the Platinum Division title in a two-overtime thriller over Liberty and showed off his versatility in the process. The 6-foot-6 forward is one of the highest motor players you’ll find, can guard multiple positions and rebounds well in and out of his area. Offensively, Williams presents and mismatch for the Gaels to use to their advantage because of his ability to stretch the floor to the three-point line, but also do damage inside and when rim-running in transition.
Joshua Jefferson Joshua Jefferson 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2022 State #158 Nation NV , Liberty (NV) – At the end of the 2021-22 season Jefferson should be in the running as one of the biggest national risers among senior prospects. The 6-foot-8 forward/center led his team to the Platinum Division title where it fell to Bishop Gorman in double overtime, but it wasn’t for a lack of production from Jefferson. The St. Mary’s-bound senior finished with 41 points and 14 rebounds in the loss and had many more impressive offensive performances throughout the event. Jefferson is an inside-out scoring threat with great touch and footwork around the basket, the ability to hit mid-post face-up jumpers and can step out to the three-point line and drill long perimeter jumpers.
Noah Shelby Noah Shelby 6'2" | PG Greenhill | 2022 State #139 Nation TX , Greenhill School (TX) – Shelby is one of those “wired-to-score” type of players whose confidence, combined with his pure shooting stroke and elite level of skill, makes him a dangerous scorer at the high school level and beyond. The Vanderbilt-signee showed that he can play both on or off the ball as needed with his ball skills and isolation breakdown ability with the ball in his hands and his pretty catch-and-shoot three-point shot and off-ball movement to get clean looks.
Nyle Hillmon Nyle Hillmon 5'10" | PG Pebblebrook | 2022 State GA , Pebblebrook (GA) – Hillmon flashed a ton of playmaking ability in the open court using his speed, shiftiness, creativity and passing IQ to push the pace in transition and find teammates filling lanes or spotting up for open three-point shots. In the half-court setting, Hillmon displayed nice pace, poise and basketball IQ when probing the lane and hitting teammates for open looks or finding gaps for him to hit and score around the basket.