BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. — Another weekend on the calendar saw OTR occupy three states yet again. South Carolina was one of the stops this time for Carolina Mania. 

I was on site on Saturday for a full day of hoops to see teams from both Carolinas as well as Georgia. 

Here’s what went down: 

Allstar performance 

The Atlanta Allstars—one of Georgia’s premier programs—lived up to, no, exceeded lofty expectations with a romp through competition on Saturday. They won by an average of 67 points per game. 

They have a variety of prospects for multiple levels:

Forward Max Patterson had a breakout high school season with North Gwinnett. The dual-sport athlete is a dominant around-the-rim presence. He makes rebounding look easy and automatic. He’s a magnet for the ball in that regard. That leads to limited shots for opponents and easy second-chance points for the Allstars. Patterson isn’t anchored to the paint though. He can put the ball on the floor and be a power driver with nimble footwork, and he can step out and hit a shot. 

Speaking of hitting shots, guard Cam Cannon can do that with the best of them. He’s built a well-earned reputation as a guy who can put points on the board in a hurry. Cannon is a multi-faceted shooter who can hit a variety of shots throughout a game. Cannon can get to the rim with a nice blend of speed and craft as well. 

Grant Robich helps anchor the backcourt with Cannon. Robich is the engine that makes the offense hum. He plays with a high IQ and plenty of toughness. He’s the ideal point guard with how well he creates open looks for his teammates. He makes the game easier for everyone. When he needs to score, he can do so from all levels. 

Coming off of an undefeated high school season, Max Etienne rounds out a really good guard stable. He has great feel on both ends of the floor and brings a hard-nosed defender to make opposing guards uncomfortable. Etienne thrives both on and off the ball. 

6-foot-7 Lukas Romine is a versatile wing who can shoot, attack closeouts for above-the-rim finishes. Romine can grab and go on the break and finish with dexterity at the rim. 

Josh Schulze plays with a high motor and runs the floor well. He has good length and can step out and hit a three. He’s a good interior defender too. 

Gavin Lesch is a lefty wing who can space the floor with his shotmaking, and he can guard multiple positions. 

MJ McWhorter is a communicator who can rebound, finish through contact at the rim, and play sound defense without fouling. 

It was an outing that emphasized the program’s strength. Seeing the Atlanta Allstars on a schedule guarantees talented, recruitable players across the board; good coaching; and disciplined, unselfish basketball. 

An available impact

Pursuing Greatness Elite’s Zymari Perry is an available forward for teams still on the hunt for one—for which there are more than a few of. 

The 6-foot-7ish forward played with a ton of energy and activity. His defensive impact was the first notable part of his game. Perry guarded both around the rim and out on the perimeter. Perry also communicated well on the backline of defense.

Perry’s rebounding on both ends also stood out. He used his size and athleticism well on the boards. A unique part of his game was how well he passed the ball. Perry showed good court awareness and made some outstanding finds. 

A national prospect shines

2028 wing Isaac Smith showed why he’s in the national conversation through a game and a half. At 6-foot-6, Smith can hit shots and use his athleticism to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Smith has an aggressive, dunk-everything mentality when appropriate. Smith is also a disruptive, multi-faceted defender who played a big role in stifling opponents. 

He’s already in the rankings, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him climb a few spots after this summer and beyond. He’s got a lot of tools to work with. 

More quick hitters

2027 Jourden Smoak closed last summer with a nice run with the Atlanta Panthers in the OTR Final Run Circuit Championship tournament. On Saturday, he looked like he’s in for another solid spring and summer. He’s a physical, versatile player who can play inside and out. Effective around the basket as a rebounder and finisher, Smoak can be a paint presence if needed, but he can also handle the ball and make plays from the perimeter as a slasher.

2028 guard/wing Brendan Hirsch impressed with his shotmaking. A clean-looking jumper, Hirsch had a pair of outings that saw him shoot it well and lead his PSB team to a good start to the weekend. 

2027 forward Jayden Gunby is a must-know big man on the OTR Circuit. He plays hard, he plays physical. Gunby has good bounce and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line for loose balls or rebounds. He has a lot of the traits coaches love in a forward. 

Josh Tec has been covering prep basketball in Georgia and nationally since 2020. He has served myriad roles as a writer and evaluator, including editor-in-chief. Tec has a degree in journalism from Georgia State. Follow his work on X (Twitter) @_joshtec.