Hoops Factory TV Presents The Tarkanian Classic

Just before Christmas 2013, Hoops Factory TV was privileged enough to cover two days of Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. As the desert weather chilled, the temperatures inside the Las Vegas gyms were turned up to scorching levels. Held over four days at a number of venues across the Las Vegas Valley, the Tarkanian Classic was an epic event that featured the Crème de la Crème of high school basketball talent.

The tournament was broken into two divisions, gold and platinum, and included a number of highly ranked prep schools squaring off against each other in non-tournament showcase games. Platinum teams included in the episode included Mater Dei, Bishop Gorman, Bishop O’Dowd, Redondo Union, and Lone Peak. Prep division teams included Prime Prep, Findlay Prep, La Lumerie, Our Savior, and Montrose Christian. The players competing in the event included four eventual McDonalds All-Americans in Stanley Johnson, Kelly Oubre, Rashad Vaughn, and Emmanuel Mudiay.

Watch as we catch up with some of the tournaments best including 2015 top prospects, Ivan Rabb, from Bishop O’Dowd, Derryck Thornton, from Findlay Prep, and Cheick Diallo, from Our Savior. Friday’s games at the Orleans Arena were televised nationally and attracted a host of basketball lifers; Van Coleman, who was announcing the games for CBS Sports, dropped wisdom seldom heard in this day in age and ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla, graced the factory with his presence. Also included are Ricky Moore, member of the 1999 UCONN National Championship Team and Gerry Freitas of Hoop Review. Karen Taylor, Jackson State Hall of Famer and mother of Stanley Johnson rounded out the day.

The following day we spoke with a variety of who’s who of tournament invitees including a trio of All Americans in Emmanuel Mudiay, Kelly Oubre, and Rashad Vaughn. We also spoke with 2015 standout Allonzo Trier who put on a show at the Tark. Craig Victor, Shawn Williams, Sam Logwood, and Joseph Toye rounded out the player interviews on day 2.

Finally, before we departed the Silver State, we cooled out with former Sonic & Clipper Michael Cage and Derryck Thornton Sr to get a parents perspective on dealing with changing situations in an ever evolving world.