On Saturday November 29, the Prep2Prep Tip-Off Classic will bring together 14 of the finest boys high school basketball programs in California and Nevada, culminated by a marquee matchup of two of the top teams in the country: Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
The Dragons will welcome their visitors from Nevada with a loaded lineup featuring one of the top players in the country, 6-9 forward Ivan Rabb, along with Boise State commit Paris Austin, a 5-10 guard.
Rabb remains uncommitted, but has narrowed his choices of schools to Arizona, California, Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA.
Gorman is led by a wealth of NCAA Division I-level talent, including 7-0 center Stephen Zimmerman, who is being courted by Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, North Carolina and UNLV and 6-10 post player Chase Jeter, who has committed to Duke.
Here’s a closer look at the marquee matchup at the Prep2Prep Tip-Off Classic:
8:30 pm – Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The level of talent that will be on display promises to be breathtaking as both teams are ranked in the USA Today Preseason Top 25.
Bishop Gorman features two of the top 10 rated players in the country in Duke commit Chase Jeter, a 6-11 senior forward/center and 7-0 senior center Stephen Zimmerman, who is being courted by many of the top universities in the nation. Zimmerman, who has narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, UNLV and UCLA, averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks per game and was named 1st team all-state in Nevada.
The talent extends beyond those two players as 6-5 senior wing Nick Blair is rated in the top 150 in the nation by Rivals. Junior forward Zach Collins may not start, but the 6-9 standout is rated among the top 50 players in the country and has already drawn interest from Arizona, Baylor, Memphis, Notre Dame, UCLA, Utah, Virginia and Wake Forest, according to ESPN.
And there are more intriguing prospects coming through the pipeline as a pair of players with impressive bloodlines are making their way through the Bishop Gorman system. Charles O’Bannon, the son of the NCAA champion by the same name, is a 6-5 sophomore wing who will look to join the playing rotation.
And Oakland fans will certainly recognize the surname of JP Payton, a 5-10 junior guard and son of NBA legend Gary Payton.
“We’re a very talented team with great size,” said Bishop Gorman coach Grant Rice, who played college ball at UNLV, where his brother Dave is currently the head coach.
Ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today, the Gaels will need to find a replacement for four-year starter at point guard Noah Robotham, who is now playing at Akron. Payton is expected to contribute at the point along with 6-1 senior Richie Thornton, who was a key contributor off the bench last year.
As for No. 16 Bishop O’Dowd, much of the focus will be on Ivan Rabb, the 6-9 senior do-it-all forward who has at times been rated the top player in his class. But there’s much more to the Dragons, including Boise State commit Paris Austin, a 5-10 senior guard.
“Bishop O’Dowd is one of the top teams in the country,” Rice said. “Coach (Lou) Richie is a class act and runs a first-class program.”
Other top players include 6-7 senior Isaiah Thomas, 6-3 senior Franklin Longrus and 7-0 senior center Mike Hauser.
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