Holiday hoops season is officially here and there is no better national tip off than the Tarkanian Classic. Held throughout Las Vegas, the Tarkanian Classic brought over 250 teams together throughout Sin City in three separate events: The Prep Showcase, high school bracket play, and the first year Junior College Showcase. Given the amount of talent across the board, media and scouts alike came about, too.
Over 100 credentialed members of the media, 100 D1 college coaches, and a dozen NBA teams were in attendance for the second day of the Tarkanian Classic’s Prep Showcase. Companies Spalding, Nike, Crocs, Gatorade, BallerTV, and the Orleans Casino jumped in as title sponsors. Event co-Directors Dinos Trigonis and Grant Rice and staff did a resounding job for providing everyone in attendance with schedule updates and accurate rosters, a rarity in today’s wild west of grassroots events.
All in all, the Tarkanian Classic’s Prep Showcase lived up to its reputation as one of the nation’s truly premier events, both on and off the court, with no shortage of talent putting ten toes down on the hardwood.
Having already examined a number of five star prospects from day two of the event, there were countless other high major prospects who warranted attention from the prep division at Tarkanian. Rather than focusing on some of the household names, we took a look at some of the International prospects and players as well as younger prospects who stood out in the final day of the prep showcase, led by China’s top prospect Boyuan Zhang and moving on from there.
With an International flare, here are some of the top performers from Day 3 of the Tarkanian Classic Prep Showcase:
Boyuan Zhang, 6’8, SF, Veritas Academy (California), 2026
There wasn’t a player who had the gym abuzz more on day 3 of the Tarkanian Classic than Boyuan Zhang, an electric left-handed swingman from China. He is an absolutely electric scorer with effortless release, can shoot on the move going either way, and is a competitor. Already having had some remarkable performances for China on the FIBA circuit, Zhang has proven himself internationally and is now doing the same in both the state of California and in the EYBL Scholastic.
Javon Bardwell, 6’6, SF, OTE RWE (Georgia), 2027
Making the move to Rod Wave Elite from the PHH Prep Diamond Doves, Javon Bardwell joined potential future Kansas teammate Taylen Kinney and it has taken his play to another level. Able to play his natural position at the wing, the slithery swingman was able to get the rock in ideal scoring positions and make quick decisions when the ball found him. Bardwell was comfortable shooting off the bounce, changed the game on both ends with his freakish athleticism, and utilized his length en route to a 21-point, 6-rebound showing in RWE’s victory over Iowa United Prep.
Jackson Kiss, 6’8, PF, Utah Prep (Utah), 2026
One of the stronger players in the Tarkanian Classic, 6-foot-8 Jackson Kiss also reminded onlookers that the New Zealander has some serious skill to his game. While he set arguably the hardest screens of anyone at the event, Kiss also showed the ability to create facing the basket for himself via quick rips to the rack and could facilitate for others as a passer from the high post. Heading to Iowa State next year, Jackson’s package of grit and ability to play facing the basket will give the Cyclones coaching staff no shortage of options how to utilize him.
Josiah Rose, 6’4, SG, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Texas), 2028
Coming into the event with a reputation as one of the better two way sophomore guards in the country, Josiah lived up that reputation and more with his play for Oak Cliff Faith Family at Tark. The lefty was incredibly confident shooting the ball from deep (hit 4 three pointers), showed the ability to facilitate a bit for others, and was smooth creating off the dribble. Rose already holds five star status with Rivals and a number of high major offers, but is quickly supplanting himself as one of the better guards in the sophomore class nationally.
Joesette Sanchez, 6’6, SF, Central Pointe Christian (Florida), 2027
A player who I had not seen prior to the event, Joesette Sanchez immediately stood out with his play in the back gym at the Tarkanian Classic. The lefty wing was a lights out shooter from the perimeter, showed the ability to create his own shot off the bounce, and utilized his height to shoot over the top of smaller defenders. While it’s still early in the recruiting process for Sanchez, he definitely is one of the next names to watch out of a Central Pointe program that has been pumping out D1 talent on the regular as of late.
Arafan Diane, 7’0, C, Iowa United (Iowa), 2026
The biggest overall player at Tark, there weren’t many players who could stop Arafan Diane when he got going on the block at the Tarkanian Classic. The massive senior carved out incredibly low position in the paint for post touches, defended with his chest, and was near automatic turning towards his left shoulders with scoring moves. The native of Guinea is Houston’s top recruit for the class of 2026 and is in contention for the top center nationally for the senior class.
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