Five Storylines from the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division

Las Vegas, Nevada – The second of two three-day Tarkanian Classic events kicked off as the High School Division began on Monday. Another 100-plus teams took the floor, spanned across multiple divisions. On Monday, I focused on the Platinum Division.

Here are some of the storylines I noted from the day of hoops.

Dedan Thomas, Jr. bleeds IQ

Dedan Thomas, Jr. finished with 26 points in Henderson (NV) Liberty High’s first game of the Tarkanian Classic. You first put eyes on Thomas, and he’s not the biggest. He doesn’t have super burst, and he is a solid enough shooter. However, his poise is off the charts.

Thomas has a crafty handle with excellent footwork. He would be the primary initiator on most plays, but he also posted on the block. He would find his advantage and go at it. It seemed that he preferred playing with a screen and would absorb contact in the paint to get to the line. Thomas simply had a knack for making the play.

Thomas released a top six in October that included UCLA, Florida, Houston, Gonzaga, Arizona, and UNLV. UNLV was three deep for this game, and Gonzaga had an assistant courtside.

Ace Buckner has the ‘it-factor’ like his dad

Greg Bucker was a 1,700-point scorer at Clemson in the late 90s. Now an Assistant Coach for the Cleveland Cavs, Greg’s son Ace Buckner is a junior guard at Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius.

The younger Buckner is a 6-foot-2 guard. Off the hoof, you could probably poke some holes in his game; he’s a tweener, his size, etc. However, once the ball is tipped and the lights are bright, Buckner simply goes out and makes plays. Buckner spearheaded a come-from-behind victory over Henderson (NV) Coronado. He has great instincts, and he wants the ball in his hands.

Currently, Buckner claims offers from Duquesne, George Mason, Cleveland State, and others.

Jazz Gardner continues to improve

Jazz Gardner has been a known commodity for a couple of years. Gardner is the son of former McDonald’s All-American and 12-year overseas pro Jelani Gardner. Jazz is around 6-foot-10, if not 6-foot-11. He has always had a smooth shot from three, especially off the catch. However, most of the time, he would fall in love with that shot.

During his first game at the Tarkanian Classic, Gardner showed to be ok playing around the basket. He did step out for a couple of pick-and-pop threes; he was 1-of-2 on them. He rebounded well, and he played under control in protecting the rim. While they do not keep official stats at the Tarkanian, Gardner seemingly grabbed every rebound in question. The feel was he had double figures by halftime.

Gardner has size, skill, and length. He is also a player who has consistently gotten better over time. While there are some raw pieces still in his game, his best basketball is ahead of him.

Peyton Marshall played like a grown man

Peyton Marshall is a massive human; he has been his entire life. In fact, about 18 months ago, Marshall tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. Now, the 6-foot-10 center is about 275, and his game has taken steps to the next level.

In this one, the four-star post finished with a 21-point double-double. This included the game-winning dunk as time expired to give his Marietta (GA) Kell team the win. There will be some movement questions, especially laterally. The center posted hard on the block, he showed a huge target, and he finished with both hands through some pretty intense contact.

Marshall, in the class of 2024, committed to Auburn last month.

Jalen Reece has it

Orlando (FL) Oak Ridge has produced a lot of talent. Head coach Stephen Reece continues to coach his guys up on a team with multiple D-I players on it. The difference here is this team is led by Reece’s son Jalen Reece.

Jalen Reece is a 5-foot-10 point guard. He has a quick and confident handle with the quick twitch to get him to his spots on the floor. Reece did not dance with the ball; he was one move and downhill. The point guard showed good vision, and he defended well in the open floor.

You see the offers, Missouri, SMU, South Florida, Cincinnati, etc., and they make sense.