The Hoop Scoop

Covering Grassroots Basketball Since 1983

A national recruiting web site and scouting service providing analysis, rankings, and coverage of grassroots basketball since 1983

No. 1 Montverde Academy In Tough Stretch

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FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy remained unbeaten by outlasting No. 9 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) to win the City of Palms Championship early in the morning on Christmas Eve. No. 18 Whitney Young (Chicago) takes third place at prestigious tournament. For Montverde Academy, the tourney victory begins a tough stretch of games that will ultimately decide its chances at a repeat mythical national title. 

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Tark Recap & National Updates

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FAB 50 No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) won the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic for the second consecutive year, outlasting No. 27 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) in overtime. Tournament will shake up national rankings picture as No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) loses twice at event. Check story for other national updates.

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Thursday Tarkanian Classic Top Performers

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We took in all the Platinum Division first round games Thursday at the 2013 Tarkanian Classic and come up with a list of our top 10 performers. Check back late Friday for a recap of the Platinum Division quarterfinals, semifinals and a recap of the top games in the Prep Division. 

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Friday Tarkanian Classic Recap

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It will be an all-California final in the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic with Student Sports FAB 50 No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) taking on No. 27 Bishop O’Dowd. In the Prep Division, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team goes down as Prime Prep (Ft. Worth, Texas) rebounds from its first loss on Thursday to down Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.). Findlay Prep’s loss is sure to shake up the next set of FAB 50 rankings after the New Year’s holiday.  

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Tarkanian Classic Preview

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After a successful inaugural event last December, the Tarkanian Classic is one of the premier Christmas tournaments of 2013. Six teams ranked in the recently updated Student Sports FAB 50 national rankings will make an appearance, highlighted by No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), the defending Platinum Division champion, and No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) in the new prep school division.

Related: Tarkanian Classic Results |City of Palms Results

In just its second year, the Tarkanian Classic has quickly become an elite holiday tournament. In last year’s Platinum Division final, eventual CIF Open Division champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) defeated eventual NIAA Division I champion and host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 76-60, behind a 23-point, 13-rebound performance from tourney MVP Stanley Johnson.

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Wednesday Tarkanian Classic Recap

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Student Sports FAB 50 ranked Findlay Prep, Mater Dei and host Bishop Gorman post victories in first day action at the 2013 Tarkanian Classic. Mr. Basketball USA impresses with a 42-point outing.

Related: Tarkanian Classic Results | Tarkanian Classic Preview |  City of Palms Results

Wednesday Tarkanian Classic Recap

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 84, Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) 45

For the first 10 minutes of the first half (in Nevada high school basketball there are two 16-minute halves and no shot clock), Foothills Christian hung with the defending California Open Division state champions.

Towards the end of the first half, Mr. Basketball USA candidate Stanley Johnson began to take over the game with strong drives to the basket. The No. 1 ranked prospect in the country by the Hoop Scoop finished with 42 points on 16-of-24 shooting, including 4-of-7 3-pointers.

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Updated FAB 50 National Rankings

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Defending FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) remains in the top spot after impressive early season victories and enters this week’s Culligan City of Palms Classic as the No. 1 seed. Preseason No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and new No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) are also off to fine starts despite setbacks to programs ineligible for national rankings consideration. Look for the City of Palms, the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas and other holiday tournaments that begin the day after Christmas to cause considerable change to the first FAB 50 update in 2014.

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T.J. Leaf: Creating His Own Path

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With a father who doubles as coach and an older brother who is the San Diego Section’s all-time leading scorer, the table was set early for Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) sophomore standout T.J. Leaf to excel. With a year of high school and high-level grassroots basketball under his belt, combined with Leaf’s gym rat mentality, there’s no telling to what heights the game will take him.

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