GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE – The Rocky Top Invitational is consistently a top stop that On the Radar Hoops hosts each year. It features some of the best programs around the Southeast. This year programs such as BMaze Elite UAA, Austin Rivers Southeast Elite 3SSB, and Top Shot Basketball UAA were headliners for the event. However, the OTR Circuit programs quickly proved that they belong in the conversation of the most competitive teams in the region.

Here are OTR Circuit players who stood out last weekend.

17U Division Standouts

Nate Accius – Team Gold Coast 17U – 2027

Team Gold Coast has a roster that is brimming with talent. Kudos to Coach Ham for finding ways to keep all of his guys engaged and get individual players to star in their roles. Accius is a player who might get overlooked at times with Gavin Reed and Donovan Swain earning headlines. However, Accius has as much upside at the collegiate level as anyone on the OTR Circuit this spring. He is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard with electric athleticism as he displayed with several highlight dunks on Sunday morning. He balances his game well with timely shooting from beyond the arc. Accius has the potential 3-and-D qualities that Coaches crave at the next level. We will be tracking his recruitment and development closely in upcoming months.

Luke Beaver – Georgia Legacy 17U – 2027

Beaver is being featured nearly every week he plays at an OTR event for his consistent productivity. The 6-foot-2 point guard scores the ball at a high clip, but it is his passing ability that earns him recognition at this event. His vision and ability to anticipate plays make him an all-around player. We noted his unselfishness in a Saturday evening game in which Georgia Legacy went on to win. He is earning the praise that he is getting this spring and will be among the top candidates for Circuit MVP later this year.

Landon Grundy – Sewer South 17U – 2027

Grundy is another player whose name will be mentioned in the OTR Circuit MVP dialogue. On a team full of standout players, it is understandable how Grundy could be overlooked at times. But his production does the talking. The 6-foot-4 guard has a lethal jumper in the midrange. He is an expert at using his body and crafty change of pace footwork to carve the space needed to get his shot. There are players in the Atlanta area that are more explosive or bouncy at the rim, but the list of players who are as skilled as Grundy at getting a bucket is thin.  

Alijah Miller – Warriors Life Elite 17U – 2027

Miller emerged as one of the top guards on the OTR Circuit this past weekend. His shot making and competitive spirit in a match-up with Sewer South earned our attention. He efficiently scored 21 points in this game, which included several buckets from 3-point range. Miller’s ability to create with the dribble in the midrange keeps defenders off balance. The 6-foot combo guard is a part of a talented backcourt with Warriors Life Elite, making them a contender in the 17U division.

Mike Lynch – Atlanta Standard 17U – 2028

Lynch is the lone 2028 prospect in the 17U division to earn a mention here. He earned it. He has been the engine for the newly formed Atlanta Standard team. The 6-foot-7 wing-forward is a bit of a do-it-all player for Coach Stretch. He is asked to rebound and defend the interior. But he can also extend the defense with his shooting range and help facilitate the offense from the top of the key. Lynch is a talented player who is not afraid to put on his hard hat and make winning plays anywhere on the court. Expect to hear Lynch’s name quite often over the next 18 months as he stars with Atlanta Standard and Pinecrest Prep.

16U Division Standouts

Karl Mullins – Team Gold Coast 16U – 2028

Mullins could be the top scoring guard in the 16U division on the OTR Circuit. He puts up consistent numbers each weekend. He shoots the 3-point jumper with confidence and has a handle that gets defenders leaning the wrong direction. Nearly every evaluator who has written about him this spring has noted his ability to score in diverse ways. His quick footwork and body control in traffic allow him to score at angles that are normally off limits for players his size.

Cooper McElroy – Tennessee Panthers 16U – 2028

We were introduced to McElroy for the first time in Gatlinburg. It was an instant positive impression. His shooting range caught our attention. He shoots the ball confidently with a consistent follow-through. However, the 6-foot-3 guard is more than just a shooter. He has bounce and athleticism in his game, which translates to both ends of the court. He can be found blocking a shot off the glass in a rundown situation. Or he can turn the corner to finish at the rim when the defense presses him too much along the arc. He is poised for a big year with Coach McInnis’ club during this circuit season.

15U Division Standouts 

Chase Pickens – Wood Elite 15U – 2029

Pickens is building a solid reputation this spring on the OTR Circuit. The lefty earned recognition from more than one evaluator throughout the event. His specialty is slicing into the lane to make plays. He is comfortable as a scorer or distributor. He still has room for growth and maturation, but he is spreading his wings with Wood Elite during this circuit season.

Cooper Head – Sewer South 15U – 2031

It is rare to find middle schoolers who are ready to battle with high school prospects, but Head is proving himself to be the exception. We watched him score 17 points and be the difference in a win for his 15U team on Sunday morning. Playing two age groups up, he is still visibly small and undersized. But his game is advanced and his confidence is mature. It is too soon to make predictions, but Head is on the right trajectory and we will be watching.

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.