Summer basketball is in the books. We can start looking ahead to the August camp circuit in the coming weeks. There is time now to reflect on stories and players who stood out this summer but did not receive full attention as the month closed. Today we look back on the notes not yet forgotten from the Final Run.

Triangle Offense Elite and the Upset of the Summer

Sunshine Elite was poised to bring home a second consecutive OTR Circuit title heading into the Final Run. Their squad checked all the boxes: star power, depth, and coaching.

However, Coach Cedric Maxwell and Triangle Offense Elite had other ideas.

These teams squared off in the second round and presented one of the premier match-ups early in the weekend. Triangle Offense Elite squeaked past in a 53-50 victory powered in large part by Chase Mohn’s 18 points.

Mohn was brilliant all summer long. He is not an imposing physical athlete, but he has terrific shot-making ability from across the court. He could be found hitting step-back 3-pointers from a few steps beyond the arc or dancing through the lane for elegant lay-ins. Their run would be short-lived. They ran into a team that was even hotter than them…the Georgia Canes.

Canes Heat Up in July

When we spoke with the Canes staff early in the spring, they were pleased with their team but also said their best days were still ahead. Their Circuit record was modest, with weekends that showed the group was still ironing out its identity.

It all came into focus in July and ended with a run to the 17U championship game. They beat Only1Elite, Triangle Offense Elite, and the Charlotte Aces before falling to eventual champion Sewer South.  

The resurgence was not the work of one player alone. Carmelo Williams took the next step as the go-to scorer and put up consistent numbers throughout the July weekends. Alongside him in the backcourt, Tyson Sharper emerged as one of the top playmakers on the Circuit. He regularly put up solid numbers across the stat sheet—points, assists, and rebounds.

Dylan Hamilton became one of the better shooters we evaluated in July. Jevon Sullivan gave them a late boost with his ball-handling and defense. Clinton McCants added timely wing scoring. By the end of July, the Canes had one of the top backcourts on the Circuit. Their run to the championship game was no accident.

Notable Standouts from the Final Run

Jason Smith – Elite Playmakers – 2027

Smith was routinely mentioned as a top OTR Circuit prospect across several spring and summer weekends. We got to see his talent firsthand in July. He is an impressive athlete who makes plays with the ball in his hands. We took note of his ability to defend and penetrate the lane.

Ce’Jay McKnight – Hoopgrind – 2027

McKnight emerged as a top shooter from the weekend. He is a 6-foot-2 guard with a strong frame and soft perimeter touch. He earned recognition from several scouts for his two-way production in July.

Kinmore Williams – Beach Boys Elite – 2027

Williams showed up and made his presence known at the Final Run. He is a 6-foot-6 wing-forward who can finish above the rim and drain jumpers from the perimeter. His ability to play in transition and finish in traffic made him one of the top college-ready prospects we evaluated.

Cleo Wonderly – Tennessee Panthers – 2027

Wonderly needs to be on all the recruiting lists for the state of Tennessee this fall. He is wired to score. He hit a game-winner in a contest we sat in on. He is a 6-foot-2 guard who can initiate the offense as a lead creator or work off the ball around screens and hunt his own shot.

Written, edited, and formatted for web by the author.

Jonathan Hemingway is a senior writer for On the Radar Hoops. He has covered basketball for the site since 2013 and has been involved in the game since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. Reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com or follow @CoachHemi on X and @Coach_Hemi on Instagram.