Jay LaPrete / Associated Press
LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon beat Akron St. Vincent - St. Mary in a high school basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio.
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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The Tarkanian Classic started nine years ago as a 24-team boys high school basketball holiday tournament at Bishop Gorman.
It returns this week with a massively different look and feel. It has grown into a 150-team boys event and a 50-team girls event played at multiple schools and the Orleans Arena.
The strategy, though, hasn’t changed: To give Las Vegas teams — not just Gorman — games against quality out-of-state competition without the burden of paying to travel, Gorman coach Grant Rice said.
“The tournament has definitely turned into one of the biggest and most exciting tournaments in the country,” Rice said.
About 75 college programs, including many of the nation’s heavy hitters, are expected to send a coach or two to scout the event. That’s invaluable exposure for the 25 Las Vegas-area teams in the field, Rice said.
This year’s event should also draw the biggest crowds because of one player. Bronny James, LeBron James’ 15-year-old son, and his Sierra Canyon squad out of the Los Angeles area will be the main attraction. Sierra Canyon plays at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Gorman, which has a capacity of 2,000.
When you consider there were 13,000 in attendance at Columbus’ Nationwide Arena in Ohio last weekend to watch Sierra Canyon play, Rice and his staff are preparing for a packed gym.
“We’ll be ready to shut it down when it comes to the point where we (hit capacity),” Rice said.
Daily tickets, which are good at all gyms, are $15 for adults and $10 for students.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
