LAS VEGAS -- Now in year number four, the Tarkanian Classic at Bishop

Gorman High School has become a must stop on the winter trail. On opening day,

2017's former No. 1 player -- seven-footer DeAndre Ayton -- showed that

he's got his game back in order and is playing at an entirely new level.

Last summer, DeAndre Ayton didn't play like the class of 2017's best

prospect and he fell from the top spot to No. 4 overall. Following an impressive

28-point performance in a win over Reno Prep, the seven-footer from Phoenix

(Ariz.) Hillcrest admitted that he had a poor summer.

Those summer struggles look to be fading away in the rearview mirror because the

Ayton that took the floor on Wednesday looked nothing like the one from July.

In the best shape of his career, Ayton is a lean and muscled 240-pounder who

showed off a wide array of skills. He spotted up to hit three-point jump shots,

he finished on spins through contact and he dunked aggressively in traffic. When

he wanted to he dominated the glass and though he didn't block too many shots,

he certainly deterred man.

Ayton said that he has fully committed to a healthy diet and that it's given him

much more energy on the floor. He wants to play with a motor all the time and if

what he did on opening day at the Tarkanian Classic is any indication then he's

got a real chance of reclaiming his spot atop the 2017 Rivals150.

On the recruiting front, Ayton said that his current top three are

Duke, Kansas and Kentucky.

Thoroughly impressed by strides DeAndre Ayton made since summer. He played like a legit No. 1 player tonight. #tarkclassic- Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops) December 17, 2015

A legit 6-foot-5 shooting guard with a strong frame,

Charles O'Bannon Jr. passes the eye test. More importantly the No. 44 player in

the class of 2017 continues to pass the game test and I'm impressed with the

little ways he improves each time he takes the court.

O'Bannon has always been a very good scorer who shoots with confidence, but at

times his shot selection and efficiency haven't been there. Wednesday, he took

smart shots and did as good a job mixing drives and using his strength as I can

remember seeing.

O'Bannon saw N.C. State during the fall and he's planning to take an

unofficial visit to Texas -- head coach Shaka Smart

watched on Wednesday -- sometime during the month of January. Others who he said

have offered include Kansas, UCLA, UNLV, California,

Washington and USC.

There are two main reasons why I ranked center Ike Anigbogu in top 40

oft the class of 2016. First is that the future UCLA Bruin is a true rim protector

with college ready strength and the second is that I could see him emerging as a

reliable low post scorer after a few years in college.

It looks as if Anigbogu is accelerating that development rate. In his Corona

(Calif.) Centennial team's win over a scrappy Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines team

Anigbogu dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. He swatted shots and

gobbled up rebounds but it was the jump hooks, spins for dunks and general level

of aggression on the offensive end that was most impressive.

Though

they fell to Corona Centennial, Desert Pines junior trio of point guard

Capri Uzan, wing Trevon Abdullah and wing Greg Floyd made it

interesting. A tough as nails 5-foot-11 floor general who can make some deep

shots, Uzan is a competitor and leader on the floor. Committed to Nevada,

Abdullah is a tough wing who is good around the basket. Possessing the highest

ceiling for growth is Floyd. Already ranked No. 101 in the class of 2017, Floyd

is a thin 6-foot-7 wing who has a good-looking jump shot. He moves well and has

plenty of room to add strength. He's not yet consistent and has to get a bit

more of a mean streak but he looks to have made positive strides since July.

The

development of 2018 guard Maka Ellis of Las Vegas (Nev.) Sierra Vista

will be intriguing to watch. At around 6-foot-4 he has good strength, has a nice

feel for the game and is skill and will player instead of somebody who relies on

Gonzaga fans should be happy about landing big man Zach CollinsClick athleticism.Here to view this Link.. The No. 32 player in 2016, Collins was efficient with his scoring around the rim, showed poise on mid range jumpers and was in control on the glass and as a positional defender.

After

a slow start, powerful Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep got things rolling and

cruised to a win behind the play of four-star senior point guard

Skylar Mays, four-star junior combo guard Markus Howard and four-star

junior combo forward P.J. Washington. A true setup guy, Mays is

somebody that LSU could use now but they'll at least be happy to get

him for the 2016-17 season. Mays has good size and strength and is a sneaky

athlete who can finish above the rim when needed. Playing off the ball on a lot

of trips up the floor, Howard was beneficiary of several excellent passes from

Mays and he made them count nailing several threes. His skill level is advanced.

Finally there's Washington. A 6-foot-7 combo forward who has always rebounded

well and scored on the interior, Washington has really expanded his game. He

made some jumpers, attacked some off the dribble and looked more versatile than

ever.

Redemption

Christian of Troy (N.Y.) had two players catch our eye on Wednesday. 6-foot-4

junior shooting guard Christopher Duarte and 6-foot-10 sophomore center

Joel Mensah. A skilled scorer, Duarte has a great looking shot from

deep and he showed that he's fully capable of getting to the rim off the bounce.

With his smooth gait in the open floor, above the rim finishing and long arms,

Mensah is easy to identify as a prospect. The physical tools to be a good

prospect are all there and now it is a matter of showcasing what type of game he

has. He's definitely one that we'll keep a close eye on.

Click Here to view this Link.