The travel basketball season officially concluded with the Final Run at Suwanee Sports Academy more than a week ago. On the Radar Hoops crowned the Circuit champions in each one of its age divisions. We have had some time now to let the excitement sink in. Now it is time to look back at our champions and reflect on their runs. We will detail what made it special and what should be remembered. Today we look back on the terrific run of the 16U Sewer South team. Coach Josh Fitzwater’s team caught fire at the right time and hoisted the trophy in the end. 

The story heading into the 16U championship game was the faceoff between arguably the two best guards in the division: HWPO’s Cameron Blackman and Sewer South’s Kamari Kilgore. Both players delivered for their team on that afternoon. Blackman scored a team-high 19 points while Kilgore made the game easy for his teammates with efficient ball handling and scored a timely 12 points in the win. Both guards delivered, yet the Final MVP award went to a different member of the Sewer South backcourt. Class of 2028 guard Jaden Johnson of Hillgrove High School turned in the performance of the afternoon with a game-high 20-point effort.

Johnson began to turn heads with his gritty play the weekend before at Power 24. His ability to defend and play the up-tempo game makes him an ideal complement to his backcourt running mate in Kilgore.

The Sewer South coach Josh Fitzwater was quick to point out that the win was a team effort. No single player won the game. A collective effort sealed it. When asked what the key to winning was, he said, “Our toughness and togetherness. We defended at a high level, shared the basketball, and stayed composed when the game got tight. Our guys trusted each other, executed the game plan, and made winning plays when they mattered most.”

That toughness showed up inside as well. Sewer was also anchored on the interior by big man Stevie Shields. The 6-foot-9 big man has earned a reputation with his jump shot at previous OTR events, but on this day, he scored four consecutive second-half buckets in the paint to turn the momentum in his team’s favor. He ended the sequence with a big blocked shot on the defensive end.

Fitzwater also praised the entire roster for doing what needed to be done to earn the win. “It’s hard to single out one player because everyone accepted their role, but our role players deserve a lot of credit. The guys who defended, rebounded, communicated, and brought energy every possession may not have filled the stat sheet, but they were a huge reason we were able to make this championship run.”

Not every travel team can boast of the success that Sewer South finished with. It takes buy-in from star player to role player to win a championship. Fitzwater says that the commitment of this squad is what he will remember the most. “I’ll remember the growth of this group more than anything. We had a team that bought into our culture, learned to trust one another, and embraced the work every day. Watching them mature on and off the court and finishing the season as champions made all the sacrifices worth it.”

Sewer South is the 2026 16U OTR Circuit Champions

Championship Game MVP: Jayden Johnson

Coach of the Year: Josh Fitzwater

Assistant Coaches: Tyler Brookins, Chris Tanzy

Roster:

Cooper Nelms, Jaden Johnson, Rylan Fitzwater, Kennington England, Jeremiah Galloway, Will LaBarbera, Stevie Shields, Kamari Kilgore, Kevin Crowner

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.