NOTES: Findlay standouts eye early start to college

Markus Howard and O'Shae Brissett are each ranked as top boys basketball prospects in the class of 2017.

For now.

Findlay Prep coach Andy Johnson confirmed this week that Howard, the Pilots' leading scorer, and Brissett are considering reclassifying to the class of 2016 to get a jump-start on their college careers.

"At the end of the year, that will be up to them and their families to decide that," Johnson said. "They're both terrific students, and they put themselves in a position to have an option to be able to do that. We'll always support whatever they want to do."

Howard, a 5-foot-11-inch point guard, is averaging 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals and is ranked the No. 31 player in the class of 2017 by Rivals.com. He was 9-for-9 from the field, including six 3-pointers, and scored 26 points in Findlay Prep's 91-67 win over St. Benedict's Prep (N.J.) on Sunday in the Hoophall Classic at Springfield, Mass.

Howard, who is originally from Arizona, decommitted from Arizona State in March. The four-star prospect made an official visit to Arizona State this month and told the Arizona Republic he plans to visit Baylor, Central Arkansas (his brother, Jordan, is a sophomore guard for the Bears), Indiana and Marquette.

Brissett is the No. 68 player in the class of 2017 by Rivals.com and is averaging 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. The 6-9 forward is being recruited by Arizona State, Oregon, Santa Clara, Southern California and Utah for next season, while schools such as UNLV, Boston College and Oklahoma have offered for 2017.

Brissett, who hails from Mississauga, Ontario, plans to take an official visit to USC next month for its game against Utah.

Findlay Prep is no stranger to players reclassifying, which has become a growing trend nationwide. Dillon Brooks reclassified in 2014 and now is a sophomore at Oregon, and Derryck Thornton moved up to the class of 2015 and signed with Duke in April.

"If a kid is ready and prepared academically, as well as socially and from an athletic standpoint, there can be benefits to it," Johnson said. "If a kid is not prepared ... sometimes it's not always good to rush the process of development. I think each individual kid, it varies."

Findlay Prep (18-0) returns to Las Vegas this week to take on Bishop Gorman in the Big City Showdown at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at South Point Arena. The game against Gorman is the last major regular-season hurdle for the Pilots, who are No. 4 in this week's USA Today Super 25 poll.

"Obviously, with this being a rivalry game, it is a big game," Johnson said. "But most importantly, I think it's just great for the city of Las Vegas to see two great high school teams represent their city and an opportunity to put Las Vegas high school basketball on the map nationally."

GOURRIER HONORED — Centennial sophomore Alexis Gourrier was selected as the Gatorade Nevada Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Gourrier won the UNLV Invitational, the Las Vegas Invitational and the Santa Clarita (Calif.) Invitational this past season and helped the Bulldogs capture the Division I state title for the second straight year.

Gourrier, who carries a 4.1 grade-point average, now is eligible for the Gatorade national runner of the year award, which will be announced this month.

BENGALS HIRE LEE — Dion Lee was hired as the football coach at Bonanza, the school announced recently. Lee, a longtime advocate of women's football, has coached the Las Vegas Showgirlz women's pro team since 2006 and formerly coached the Las Vegas Sin of the Lingerie Football League.

He replaces Kevin Volcic, who went 5-22 in three seasons. Bonanza has not qualified for the Division I Sunset Region playoffs since 2011.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ