Haynes Jr. Headed to OTE

This week, class of 2026 guard Cedric Haynes Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, and TD Prep announced that he will join the YNG Dreamerz of the Overtime Elite league this season.

Haynes Jr. is a 6-foot-4 guard who competed with Team Dickerson and TD Prep for the past three years. He explained his motivation for joining the league, “There is an atmosphere of everyone in that organization of wanting to get better on and off the court. There is also a strong sense of faith and God with the people there.”

Gratitude at The Top

TD Prep founder and head coach Demond Stephens supports the move wholeheartedly. “This is a blessing for Cedi. He came to us three years ago with the expressed intention of getting a Division-1 opportunity. This is the next step in him realizing that goal.”

He added, “We are grateful to Coach Jeremy Ellis for recognizing Cedi’s talent. He has a great coaching eye.”

OTE Background

The Overtime Elite (OTE) was launched in 2021 by Overtime co-founders Dan Porter and Zack Wiener as an alternative for elite basketball players between the ages of 16-20. There is an emphasis on skill development in a pro-style environment. The league provides opportunities for athletes to complete their education while also getting financial compensation. Most notably, the league helped produce NBA talent such as the Thompson twins (Amen and Ausar), who were drafted 4th and 5th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

From Potential to Production

Haynes Jr. has flashed potential from the very first time he stepped onto the court with Team Dickerson. At the OTR The Opening in 2023, he suited up for Stephen’s Green squad and immediately gained recognition. Here is the OTR evaluation from the event:

Junior Cedric Haynes is poised for a breakout spring with Team Dickerson Green. He is a 6’4 guard with skills and athletic tools. We had a chance to see his talent on display in one of the first games on Saturday morning. He created shots off the dribble while also dishing to teammates when the double team rotated towards him. Most impressively was a huge block in transition in the final seconds of the fourth quarter that secured a win for his team.

Two and half years later, Haynes Jr. has transformed into a complete basketball player. He went from a player with potential to player who produces.

Coach Stephens is blunt in his opinion about Haynes Jr. and his talent. “Cedi is the best 2-guard in the nation in the 2026 class. Regardless of circuit, he is proven to be an all-around player. When it comes to production, he does it all. He rebounds, defends, the whole package.”

He holds offers from Cal State Bakersfield, Georgia State, Southern Utah, and Ole Miss. This list is expected to grow after spending this season in the OTE league.

Now Haynes Jr. is poised to compete with some of the best prospects in the nation this winter. He is reportedly in the best physical shape of his life. He has transformed his body into elite form. However, his biggest strength on the floor is his shooting.

Stephens likened Haynes’ form to Atlanta native and 9-year NBA veteran, Malik Beasley. He says, “even when he misses, it’s close. It always looks good.”

“A Small Independent Program”

Team Dickerson, under the direction of Stephens, is renowned for developing professional basketball players. Noah Clowney is thriving with the Brooklyn Nets. The third-year pro erupted for a career high 31 points versus the Knicks this week. The 6-foot-10 forward is in the starting lineup consistently for the Nets.

Stephens continued, “The shoe circuits are constantly calling me to come back. But our mission is not finished here as an independent ball club. We trust what we are doing over here. The success that our former players are having and the future that Cedi will experience is further proof.”

Team Dickerson is a fixture on the OTR Circuit. Coach Stephens commitment to competition and developing local talent always attracts college coaches at live period events.

Character is the Bedrock

In this era of basketball, it seems as if loyalty is discarded when a better opportunity presents itself. That is not what this situation represents at all with Haynes Jr. moving on to OTE. In fact, it may represent the opposite. Haynes Jr. has the blessing of his coach and mentor. Both recognize that this is opportunity that could finally get Haynes Jr. to realize his final goal.

“Cedi is not a typical modern kid. He is a throwback person. He was at our practice last night, even after making this decision. He still wants to help teammates and be a part of what we do,” Coach Stephens added.

Haynes Jr. comes from a family of faith and hard work. His father is a minister, and his mother is a teacher.

Coach Stephens concluded by saying, “When we first talked to Cedi and his parents, we were straightforward and honest. They have always listened and understood what we do is with love. Only God knows the ceiling with these kids. We just work to get them there.”

Highlights of Haynes Jr. courtesy of On the Radar Hoops Media

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 Twitter @CoachHemi