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OTR Sweet 16 Session I: More Standouts – April 26, 2023

OTR Sweet 16 Session I: More Standouts - April 26, 2023
April 26, 2023

MARIETTA, Georgia, – Next Play 360 was the central location of the OTR Sweet 16 Session I last weekend. A remodeled facility with new polish and a fresh aura set the tone for a solid weekend of hoops. Last weekend was the opening spring evaluation period for this calendar year. Teams from across the southeast, including teams from as far away as Texas and California showed up to compete and earn looks which hopefully end up with a scholarship offer. Here is a second look at standouts from the weekend below.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

It is not every day you get to watch a point guard who has both the feel and flair for the position. We got a chance to watch one that checked those boxes in Tyler Baldwin-Hughes with the Georgia Stunners. His passing abilities are to be noted here. He uses his body and ball skill to set up slick passing angles for his teammates. We saw him bounce timely passes to cutters on their way to the rim that was impressive. Baldwin-Hughes is more than just a passer, however. His jumper is solid both off the dribble and the reversal pass. And he is a threat to attack the rim and draw contact for trips to the free throw line. There is a lot to like in the class of 2024 prospect’s game. Expect bigger things from him in the next year.

Class of 2024 wing Jeremy Innocent is a name to remember coming out of this tournament. He has prototypical length and skill for the modern game at his position. We watched him with his South Florida Elite squad put up 24 points in a win. He showed consistency with his jumper from beyond the arc. The 6-7 prospect can also take defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. He does a nice job of using his long arms and his body to finish in traffic.

One of the better available 2023 prospects at the event was Agbo Ogbonna from Fast Break Basketball. He is an athletic forward who projects to be a double-double producer nightly. He has broad shoulders and nimble feet, which is a terrific combination of attributes for a front-line player. Not only can Agbonna dish out the contact, but he can also evade defenders with his footwork in traffic. He is a 6-7 prospect that would fit into a variety of schemes at the collegiate level.

It seems there is always room for another shooter on the court. Class of 2024 Colin Way finds his way onto the court by providing a steady hand as a 3-point shooter. The Pressure Elite shooting guard is more than just a shooter, however. He finds ways to impact the game in small ways that often turn into being a winning play. He grabs a loose ball or gets a timely deflection, which turns into a momentum changer. We appreciated how Way played the game and his production as a shooter is valuable.

Class of 2024 Jordin Bell had a big game on Sunday morning when we peaked in on his game with the Showtime Ballers. He heated up from beyond the arc and powered his team to a double-digit victory. He drained six 3-pointers in the morning game on his way to a 21-point outing. The combo guard is a steady player who can provide ball handling and defense in the back court. Yet it will be his shooting that we draw the most attention from college coaches.

Hot shooting seemed to be a theme from the weekend. Class of 2024 Joey Lilley got into rhythm on Sunday afternoon with a 21-point effort all on seven 3-pointers. Lilley, a left-handed 6-3 wing, is more than just a spot up shooter. He plays the game with energy and actively hunts his shot around the perimeter. This combined with his quick release makes him a tough match-up for opposing defenders. We expect to see similar performances from Lilley this year with the Atlanta Timberwolves.

We took note of the versatility that Q6 wing Jemeh Jones brings to the court. He is a well built 6-5 prospect who can bully opponents in the lane. At the same time, he has the touch and skill to play facing the basket. He got several buckets by bullying his way to the rim or on second chance points. He also showed a smooth, rhythm pull-up jumper from the perimeter. This combination of skills makes him a notable 2024 prospect out of Florida.

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him at JLHemingway@gmail.com and follow him on twitter @JL_Hemingway.


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