OTR Hoops: Tec's Week in Review - 2027 in Focus - January 31, 2026

For the second weekend in a row, plans of spending a Saturday in the gym have been thwarted by a dusting of inclement weather. 

However, prior to the snow, I was able to get out and take in some games, and in place of Saturday’s canceled event, I used the time to watch some games on film. 

Whether due to proximity or an abundance of options, I haven’t been able to see some prospects yet this season, so I decided to catch up via online viewing. 

With the spring only a month away, the class of 2027 will be the talk of the recruiting world. Here are some that stood out from my weeks’ worth of Georgia hoops consumption: 

JJ Brown - Parkview: Brown was a consistent standout on the OTR platform in the spring. After a season on the gridiron that saw him earn several high-level football offers, Brown is back on the hardwood showing off his hoops prowess. He subverts the expectations of a football player on the basketball court. Brown is nimble with legitimate skill both with the ball as a handler or as a shooter. 

Tyce Curtis - Campbell: Expect Curtis to be a popular name this spring. He was great for Campbell on Friday night. Curtis led the Spartans with 19 points. He’s a downhill guard who can score in traffic and is a consistent finisher at the rim. If he doesn’t finish a play, there’s likely a foul involved. Give him an opening, and he’ll put his athleticism on display with a dunk worthy of inducing crowd hysteria. He puts pressure on defenses with his pursuit of the rim, but he also makes good passes and reads with the ball. He’s not just a rim scorer. He’ll make plays for others too.  Curtis is pesky on defense. He’s assertive on that end and will jump passing lanes and get his team going in transition with steals. 

Iverson Freeman - Eastside: Having built buzz in the fall at various individual player camps, Freeman has had some highlight moments with Eastside during their solid season. Freeman’s most apparent impact comes on defense where he’s a disruptor. He can be bothersome and create steals and deflections. He’s had some big offensive games for the Eagles as well. 

Jarvis Hayes Jr - Woodward Academy: The top of the 2027 class in Georgia has looked solid as we’re only about a month away from them being the focus of the recruiting world. Jarvis Hayes Jr is going to be as in demand as anyone in the class during the warmer months ahead. On Wednesday Hayes helped lead Woodward to a solid win over Tri-Cities with 18 points. He opened the game on an 11-0 run and showed off his shotmaking during that stretch. Per usual, his effortless athleticism was on display with high-flying blocks and rebounds. Hayes Jr is the smoothest athlete in Georgia’s 2027 class. He just makes things look easy out there. 

Brandon Pemberton - Parkview: Pemberton was the biggest fall stockriser in Georgia. He’s carried that momentum into the winter with Parkview. At 6-foot-5, Pemberton is the primary ballhandler for the Panthers. He’s good at balancing scoring and distributing. Pemberton can get into a defense and pitch it back out to shooters, and he makes nice transition reads with the ball. He’s shown an ability to consistently hit shots from all over the floor. If he keeps doing what he’s done for the last few months, 

Jevon Sullivan - Eastside: Sullivan has been another major factor in Eastside’s nice season this far. He’s a guard who can score from multiple spots on the floor. During film reviews, Sullivan made athletic plays at the rim, and he showed off good touch on his shot, especially from midrange. Sullivan is a consistent playmaking option for the Eagles. He can get to spots to score or to find teammates. 

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.