With the spring behind us and July on the horizon, it is time to look at the standings to sort out who the favorites are and which teams could act as spoilers. Our second look will be at the 16U division. At the top there are teams that are clear favorites. There are also talented teams that have not quite found their stride but could easily bust up the bracket. “Several Cinderella candidates possess the talent to get hot at the right time. Here is a look at which teams will be making noise in July.  

Favorites

OBG Elite
Record on OTR Circuit: 16-0

OBG is the overwhelming favorite in this division. They finished with a 16-0 record by the end of May. Led by 6-foot-10 forward Rabi Bango, they dominated the competition all spring and remain the overwhelming favorite. Guards Jeremy Willmore and Yadiel Sanchez have regularly worked together to get buckets and harass opponents defensively. Alexis Fuentes and Jordan Rivera are two other names to track heading into July because of their productivity in the spring.

HWPO Hoops
Record on OTR Circuit: 24-6

HWPO finished the spring with the most wins Record on OTR Circuit:24) of any team on the OTR Circuit regardless of division. Cameron Blackman has fueled the charge with his relentless attack of the lane. He is currently in the running for MVP honors for this division. He is flanked by Moses Alls and Liam Erawoc in the backcourt. Both kids are gritty players willing to contribute on either end of the floor. Landon Ezzell and Khaleb Young have emerged as solid players for this squad as well.

Team S.M.A.S.H.
Record on OTR Circuit: 17-11

S.M.A.S.H. is paced by 6-foot-4 combo guard Jayrn Williams. He is one of the best athletes in the division capable of exploding for big moments. Guards Steffan Jacques and Blue Lewis have also been capable contributors. The team also boasts depth and size on the frontline with Dau Yak(6-foot-9), Idris Ibrahim (6-foot-7), and Sebastian Rainey (6-foot-6).

Sunshine Elite
Record on OTR Circuit: 13-3

Leon Lowman Jr. has staked his case as one of the top prospects in this division. He leads Sunshine Elite, averaging 17 ppg and more than 2 blocks per game. Ryan Harper and Eli Basili hold down the backcourt with shooting and ball handling. Sebastian Jean-Charles and Jaden Denmark have built a reputation as sticky defenders for this group. With a win percentage north of 80% on the OTR Circuit, they will come into July with a lot of confidence.

Bracket Busters

Sewer South
Record on OTR Circuit: 12-12

Sewer South boasts one of the top guards on the OTR Circuit regardless of division in Kamari Kilgore. If he finds rhythm in July, he could lead his team to the championship game. He is not alone on this team, however. Jeremiah Galloway and Stevie Shields are two players that caught our attention this spring.

Team Gold Coast
Record on OTR Circuit: 14-10

One of the top duos on the 16U OTR Circuit is found in Karl Mullins and Jaris Anacreon. Mullins has been featured multiple times by OTR scouts this season as an impressive lead guard with elite scoring instincts. Anacreon has earned his fair share of attention as a versatile scorer. He is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who is solid from 3-point range and can score off the bounce in traffic.

Georgia Stunners
Record on OTR Circuit: 10-8

The Stunners’ record betrays the talent that is on this roster. They are sparked by Travell Blake Jr., who has led this team in scoring all year long. Class of 2029 wing MJ Jawona has been impressive as a defender and scorer at the rim. Abraham Feleke and Kaden Hibbert have contributed consistently with shooting and ball handling. Amari Anderson keeps everyone together as a leader and communicator. Keep an eye on Aiden Stutson this summer. He is a reliable glue guy who routinely steps up to defend the best player from the other team.

Warriors Life Elite
Record on OTR Circuit:12-7

No one should be anxious to see the Warriors Life Elite group in their section of the bracket. This gritty and hardworking group makes their opponents work for everything. Jaleek Parson leads the way with playmaking, scoring and intense defense. It is a well-rounded group with Zac’cai Lee who is physically mature and aggressive on either end of the floor. Jayden Mabine is a name that began to trend among scouts towards the end of the spring as a consistent scorer. Daran Bell is another reliable contributor as an interior defender and rebounder.

Hoopgrind
Record on OTR Circuit:10-6

Paul Marte was tabbed as one of the top scorers in this division following the spring. This roster is more than just Marte, however. Brayden Fallon and Janeury Alcante are proven perimeter contributors. Jude Faz is a dependable distributor, while Micah Toomer works the interior as a defender and rebounder.

Sleepers

TWU
Record on OTR Circuit: 9-6

Coach Neto’s group ended on a high note in Florida over the Memorial Day weekend. They finished with a perfect 4-0 record, which put them in the upper half of the 16U division to finish the spring. London Calloway, Colin Cane, and Connor Webb are guys that we have noted consistently this spring as top performers.

Warner Robins All-Stars
Record on OTR Circuit: 8-13

This group is young with a few freshmen playing up a division to gain experience. They began to gel toward the end of the spring. Christian Grant and Kam Schmitz have led the way for most of the season. Look for Mykell Barnes, Kelvin Hill, and Jaquan Freeman to emerge this July.

GA Legacy Premier
Record on OTR Circuit: 12-12

The Legacy guys have battled all spring long. They suffered a few heartbreaking losses, but they were competitive in every tournament that we have watched them. They have some guys who can play too. Lucas Fainter is consistently one of the premier scorers we have evaluated. Korben Polk is emerging as a top all-around guard in the North Georgia area. Beaty Terrette is a fun guy to watch, because of his competitiveness and shot making abilities. Ryan Massada and Easton Hicks fill important roles and deserve attention as well.

PSB Tampa Robinson
Record on OTR Circuit:10-8

PSB Tampa will match up toe-to-toe with anyone in this division. Adrian Pozo needs to be highlighted as a top scorer on the OTR Circuit. He also shoots nearly 40% from three-point range with incredible efficiency. Josiah Reid and Omar Nicholson are regarded by their coaches as scrappy defenders. Daviss Jones is equally effective as a defender, averaging nearly two blocks per game. Jeremy Chavers and Elijah Ventura are two important members of this team who provide leadership and passing for coach Robinson.

NGU White
Record on OTR Circuit:12-11

NGU seemed to get better as the spring went along. They finished above .500 and also impressed the OTR staff with several impressive outings. Julian Montgomery stood out as one of the division’s leading scorers. Khari Hall flanked Montgomery in the backcourt as a threat in his own right to score with jumpers or drives in traffic. They are a team who can get hot and give a favorite fits.

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 CoachHemi@gmail.com