The OTR Circuit is heating up after three weekends of play. There are plenty of prospects to track coming out of the month of March. This week we take a closer look at lead guards in the 17U division who have been impressive early this season.

Keelan Day – Griffin Grasshoppers 17U – 2027

Day is catching fire early this travel season. He dominated the Friday night game, scoring 22 points while powering his team to a win. He scored a game-high 22 points in that win and flashed explosiveness and creativity with the basketball. He is equally effective on the defensive end, where he uses aggressiveness and anticipation to create turnovers. The 6-foot-4 prospect might be categorized as a combo guard rather than a true lead guard, but his playmaking ability earns him a spot on this list.

William Gause – Triangle Offense Elite 17U – 2027

Gause helped Triangle Offense Elite to a 3-1 record over the weekend. He is a steady contributor by regularly scoring double digits and impacting the defensive end. We were impressed with his ability to shoot the passing lanes and turn defense into offense. Gause is one of the more balanced prospects on the circuit by being able to provide leadership and timely playmaking.

Fortune Hicks – Gold Elite 17U – 2027

Hicks is quickly becoming a favorite name among scouts and media members on the circuit. The 6-foot-3 guard brings quickness with ball handling and body control in traffic. We took note of his ability to weave through defenders as he rubbed against ball screens to create space in the half-court offense. Hicks is a prospect that college coaches will want to check out this spring.

Iverson Freeman – Team S.M.A.S.H. Pro 17U – 2027

Freeman is another talented guard on the circuit. He is a scoring talent who makes it look easy. His willingness to dish to teammates complements his nose to hunt his own shots. He has earned recognition from scouts and media this spring and is on a trajectory to be recognized as one of the top guards on the circuit.

Maki Mitchell – Only1Elite 17U – 2027

Mitchell exploded for 32 points in a win over Tier 2 Elite 3SG on Sunday afternoon. He has microwave tendencies, meaning that he can heat up quickly. Not only is he fast with the ball from end to end, but he can also drain the deep ball with consistency. He hit seven 3-pointers in that Sunday win. The 6-foot dynamo from Commerce High School is a rising star on the circuit.

Armond Smith – Sewer South 17U – 2027

Smith is cementing his reputation as one of the premier scorers on the circuit. He dropped 30 points on Saturday afternoon. He is noted for his speed and quickness, but his shooting ability should not be overlooked. He connected on five triples in Sewer’s match-up against Triangle Offense Elite, which is noted for its tough perimeter defense.

Kyree Taylor – Team EYA Sports Black 17U – 2027

Taylor was the breakout player of the weekend. He scored 23 points in the game of the weekend where Team EYA knocked off the highly touted 4:44 Athletics Pro 16 with a packed crowd surrounding court 4. He hit the game-winning bucket in double overtime to secure the win. His quickness and ability to change direction with the ball make him a tough player to defend. He has reported a handful of offers already, but if he continues turning in performances like he did this weekend, that list should grow.

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 and follow him on X @CoachHemi and Instagram @Coach_Hemi.