CUMMING, Georgia – On the Radar Hoops hosted The Opening last weekend at Dobbs Creek and Central Park Rec. This was the first opportunity for many programs to get into action this travel ball season. Perfection is never expected this early in the season. However, teams got a first look at how their roster is rounding into form.

In this issue, we take a deeper look at the OTR Circuit to gauge which teams are trending. Coming out of the first weekend, three Circuit teams finished with perfect 4-0 records: Sewer South OTR, Elite Playmakers OTR, and Team S.M.A.S.H. Pro OTR. Here is the story of the 17U Circuit.

Sewer South OTR

Early consensus among scouts, media members, and a few college coaches in attendance was that Sewer South has the strongest roster. The results leaned in favor of that opinion as this group finished with three wins by more than 30 points.

Players who came into the weekend with strong reputations such as Jordan Wiseman and Roman Avery backed up their status as potential stars on the Circuit.

Perhaps the biggest story surrounding head coach Spencer Dixon’s squad is the frontline duo of 6-foot-9 forward Junior Phillips and 6-foot-10 forward/center Tim Johnson. Both 2027 prospects help Sewer control the lane with rebounds, block shots, and paint finishes. Yet both are mobile and bring versatility from baseline to baseline.

The backcourt of Armond Smith and Christian Dixon appears to be more than solid. Both kids play with a high motor that allows them to affect the game on both ends of the court.

Elite Playmakers OTR

The program out of Douglasville, Georgia, started the spring with a strong showing. Their signature win of the weekend came over fellow OTR Circuit program member, Gold Elite. Program Director Shawn Phillips of the Elite Playmakers said, “We faced an intense and challenging game against Gold Elite, who I felt were one of the best teams in the 17U division. The game went back and forth the whole way and it came down to a last-minute putback that won the game for us.”

Coach Dereikus Smith's squad was led by Jason Smith, who scored 25 points, and Noah Jones, who scored 26 points, in the win. Amare McKinley added 12 points and the game-winning bucket to ensure the Elite Playmakers’ perfect record over the weekend.

Team S.M.A.S.H. Pro OTR

Team S.M.A.S.H. Pro had buzz going into the event after several prospects stood out at the SHReport Showcase the weekend before. One of those players was 6-foot-8 wing Jiothiang Wuor. He delivered another dominant performance on Saturday. He showed touch from the perimeter and the interior.

Team S.M.A.S.H. Pro’s roster is littered with several other next-level prospects, including 6-foot-7 wing Byron Lee. He earned praise for his ability to finish above the rim and start the break with rebounds. The class of 2027 point guard Iverson Freeman was noted by OTR evaluator Q Green as “one of the most complete point guards at The Opening.”

It is impossible to overlook the production of Anei Majock either. He dominated the SHReport Showcase with dunks and deep 3-pointers. He continued his standout spring with more of the same over the weekend.

Follow @OntheRadarHoops for more coverage from the OTR Circuit this week.

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.