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Las Vegas products suiting up for the men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments

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Walker (left) and O’Bannon
Ohio State / Courtesy

Las Vegas’ March Madness reputation goes beyond hosting so many games. Southern Nevada has been a prep-basketball hotbed for more than a decade now, with a large number of both local men’s and women’s players competing at the next level. Here are some of the stars from Las Vegas, outside of the big three on the UNLV women’s roster, set to compete in this year’s NCAA Tournaments.

Taylor Bigby Freshman guard, No. 8 women’s seed USC, opens March 17, 5 p.m. vs. South Dakota State.

The two-time Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year out of Centennial High spent one injury-plagued year in Oregon before turning into a highly-coveted player in the transfer portal and ultimately returning closer to home. She has started seven games and has otherwise been the first player off the bench to help guide the Women of Troy to their first tournament berth since 2014.

Frankie Collins Sophomore guard, No. 11 men’s seed Arizona State, opens March 15, 6:10 p.m. vs. UNR (outcome undetermined at press time).

The former Coronado and Clark High standout transferred from Michigan before the season and has the seen the decision pay off as the Sun Devils’ starting point guard. Collins averages 10 points, four rebounds and four assists per game, becoming known as one of the Pac-12 Conference’s top playmakers.

Jackson Francois Freshman guard, No. 7 men’s seed Missouri, opens March 16, 10:40 a.m. vs. Utah State.

The Bishop Gorman graduate and son of former UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois walked onto the Tigers’ roster to become a complementary part of a surprising first season under new coach Dennis Gates. Francois has received six minutes of playing time with one steal.

Aaliyah Gayles Freshman guard, No. 8 women’s seed USC, opens March 17, 5 p.m. vs. South Dakota State.

The McDonald’s All-American out of Spring Valley High hasn’t yet stepped on the court in college but her mere presence is an inspiration to her teammates. Gayles was tragically shot multiple times in the arms and legs last April, but her determination to play basketball again has never wavered and her chance could come as early as the start of next season.

Joshua Jefferson Freshman forward, No. 5 men’s seed St. Mary’s, opens March 17, 11 a.m. vs. VCU.

A year after leading Liberty High to its first state championship, Jefferson is back to his winning ways as a depth piece on a Gaels’ team that won a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title for the first time since 2016. Jefferson provides energy off the bench, especially on the defensive end.

Will McClendon Freshman guard, No. 2 men’s seed UCLA, opens March 16, 7 p.m. vs. UNC Asheville.

The former Bishop Gorman High star missed all of last season and the beginning of this year as he recovered from a torn ACL, but he could play an increased role in this year’s tournament. Injuries have cut into UCLA’s depth, potentially opening up an opportunity for McClendon to showcase his versatile game for a national championship contender.

Chuck O’Bannon JR. Senior forward, No. 6 men’s seed TCU, opens March 17, 7 p.m. vs. either Arizona State or UNR.

The son of NCAA champion Charles O’Bannon Sr. and nephew of fellow UCLA legend Ed O’Bannon, the Bishop Gorman High graduate has established his own legacy after transferring from USC for his final two seasons of college basketball. He has been a two-year starter at TCU, helping lead the school to a pair of the best seasons in program history.

Daejah Phillips Sophomore guard, No. 14 women’s seed Hawaii, opens March 17, 2:30 p.m. vs. LSU.

The Centennial High graduate was featured on SportsCenter for a game-winning shot she made with three seconds left to lift the Rainbow Wahine to the Big West Conference Tournament title over UC Santa Barbara at Dollar Loan Center in Henderson. Teammates call her “Big Dog” because of her knack for coming through in the biggest moments.

Julian Strawther Junior guard, No. 3 men’s seed Gonzaga, opens March 17, 4:35 p.m. vs. Grand Canyon.

The star swingman initially declared for the NBA Draft after last season before deciding to return to Gonzaga, where he’s raised his game to another level. Strawther, who became one of the most decorated high school players in Nevada history at Liberty High, has averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game for the Bulldogs this season.

Eboni Walker Senior forward, No. 3 women’s seed Ohio State, opens March 18, 10:30 p.m. vs. James Madison.

The former Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year out of Centennial High says she has finally found a collegiate place to call home after previous stops at Arizona State and Syracuse and a role as an energizer off the bench. The Buckeyes reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings this season, with Walker contributing in everything from scoring flurries to lockdown defense.

Darrion Williams Freshman forward, No. 11 men’s seed UNR, opens March 15, 6:10 p.m. vs. Arizona State (outcome undetermined at press time).

Williams played only one season at Bishop Gorman but made a major impact in winning last year’s Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year award. The accolades have continued rolling in collegiately; he was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year this season.

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Case Keefer

Case Keefer has spent more than a decade covering his passions at Greenspun Media Group. He's written about and supervised ...

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