On the Radar Hoops is always looking for the next player who is ready to take a bigger step, and that search is not limited to the names already treated as headliners. Over the past year our staff tracked camps, tournaments, and high school games. The 2028 and 2029 players below showed enough last year to take on bigger roles for their high school teams this winter.

Julian Montgomery – South Cobb – 2028

Montgomery should be remembered as one of the top scorers in the 16U division of the OTR Circuit last year, and that production should travel to South Cobb this winter. The 6-foot-3 guard earned consistent praise from evaluators in the spring and summer, and his confidence as a playmaker showed up on the other end as well, where he became an impact defender. He is positioned to be one of the more visible scoring guards in the Atlanta metro this season.

Khari Hall – Douglas County – 2028

Hall had several of his best stretches with the 16U group on the circuit last year, and Douglas County should feel that immediately. He is a 5-foot-10 playmaking guard who can turn the corner in tight space, and he is already comfortable working off the high ball screen and forcing the defense to react. That skill set gives him a path to become one of the top scoring guards west of the city this winter.

Kameron Wright – Locust Grove – 2028

Wright closed the summer with a strong showing at the Final Run, and Kyle Sandy noted at the time that he “has rebounded the ball well today. Long armed big has scored with a left-handed hook and has ran the floor to clean up misses. Changes shots at the rim on defense.” He is more than a post-up and rebound piece, however, because he has shown range on his jumper and he runs the floor like a wing. Locust Grove should be able to use that versatility in a larger role this season.

Jorden Johnson – Locust Grove – 2028

Johnson will line up with Wright at Locust Grove and give the Wildcats an athletic 1-2 punch in the 2028 class. He stood out at the OTR Power 24, and we have seen him score across several events over the past year. The 6-foot-2 guard can elevate in traffic and still finish with a soft touch around the rim, which is why he should be a featured scorer for Locust Grove this winter.

Mykell Barnes – Central (Macon) – 2029

Barnes is a strong breakout candidate for the Chargers this season, and last year helped set that up. He played up an age group on the circuit and still found ways to help when he was not the focal point and the shots were not falling. This winter should look different, however, because Central can give him the usage to star, and he will do that alongside Jarvis Williams in one of the better guard pairings in Middle Georgia.

Travis Hart – Southwest (Macon) – 2029

Hart is another 2029 who spent last year playing up on the 16U circuit, and the work showed. The 6-foot-1 combo guard can heat up once he finds a rhythm, and he is useful in two spots because he can run the team as a lead guard or score as a slashing wing. Putting that together with more consistency will be the goal in his sophomore season at Southwest.

Denney Stomer – B.E.S.T. Academy – 2029

Stomer gave evaluators an extended look this summer, first as a poised playmaker at the OTR x SHR High School Shootout in June and then as one of the guards who stood out at the OTR Breakout Camp. We like the energy and the shot-making, and that matters at B.E.S.T. Academy, where he will share the backcourt with Xion Evans, one of the best scoring guards in the state. The opportunity is there for Stomer to grow into a larger piece of that group this season.

Daylen Williams – B.E.S.T. Academy – 2029

We got our first clean evaluation of Williams at the OTR Breakout Camp last month, and he used it. The 5-foot-10 guard plays bigger than his size and showed enough athleticism to stay on the floor in a deeper guard rotation. B.E.S.T. Academy will look to develop him this winter, and this season is the start of that track.

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.