The OTR Tip-Off Classic is the place for Metro Atlanta high school teams to get their season started with a test. The basketball media in Atlanta always has their attention on this event annually. Norcross High School will be the venue for the year’s event on Saturday November 15. This edition will feature 16 teams in eight games starting at 10am. The event is loaded with potential title contenders and prospective All-State prospects. Here is the preview of the key players to track throughout the day. 

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Wheeler vs. Tri-Cities 9pm 

Wheeler: 2025 Record 29-3, Class 6A State Champions
Coach – Larry Thompson
Watchlist: ’27 Kevin Savage, ’26 Colben Landrew (UConn), ’26 Lamarrion Lewis, ’26 Jaron Sulsberry (Ole Miss), ‘26 Amare James (Clemson)

Tri-Cities: 2025 26-6, Class 5A State Champions
Coach – Omari Forts
Watchlist: ’27 Tre Keith, ’26 Jalan Wingfield, ‘26 Quintavien Thurman

This is the premier match-up of the day. It features two returning state champions who return key pieces from last season’s roster. The point guard battle between Kevin Savage and Tre Keith will be highly anticipated as both are highly recruited nationally. There are plenty of early season bragging rights on the line in this one. 

Norcross vs. Lambert 7:30pm 

Norcross: 2025 Record 19-12, Elite 8 Appearance
Coach – Jesse McMillan
Watchlist: ’27 Josh Smith Jr., ’26 LJ White

Lambert: 2025, 26-3, Sweet 16 Appearance
Coach – Clay Wages
Watchlist: ’26 Will Dopfer (Longwood), ’26 Michael Dees (Columbia College), ’27 Patrick Blanchard

The Blue Devils are looking to build around junior wing Josh Smith Jr. this season. His athleticism matches the skills in his tool bag. Coach McMillan will be looking for new players to emerge as complementary pieces on the roster. Coach Clay Wages have a similar situation after a 26-win season. They return Will Dopfer, who is a player capable of shouldering the load nightly. The Longhorns have several seniors ready to step up and make another run this season. 

Winder-Barrow vs. Grayson 5:30pm 

Winder-Barrow: 2025, 26-4, Elite 8 Appearance
Coach – Travis McDaniel
Watchlist: ’26 Jerrin Samuel (Furman commit), ’26 Britt Richardson, ’26 Taphari McDonald

Grayson: 2025, 28-4, Final 4 Appearance
Coach – Geoffrey Pierce
Watchlist: ’26 Tyler Williams (Piedmont), ’27 MJ Curry, ’26 Malik Rideout, ’27 Bryon Lee, ’29 Austin Leonard

The Doggs lost several important contributors from last year’s Elite 8 run. However, they return one of the best basketball players in the greater Atlanta area in Jerrin Samuel. The Furman commit is the total package as a play maker and winner. Coach McDaniel will count on senior leadership to curb the younger talent from the Rams. While Pierce’s back court is heavy with experience with Tyler Williams and Malik Rideout, most of the buzz around Grayson’s roster has centered on their underclassmen. MJ Curry is quickly emerging as one of the city’s top guards. While freshman wing Austin Leornard made waves during the fall camp circuits. 

Central Gwinnett vs. Dutchtown 4:00pm 

Central Gwinnett:
Coach – Marcus Spivey
2025 Record 15-14, State Tournament Appearance,
Watchlist: ’26 Dwayne Lawton, ’26 Denovian Flowers, ’26 O’Davion Thompson, ’26 Brayden Holiday

Dutchtown:
Coach – Wallace Corker
2025 Record 26-4, Elite 8 Appearance, ‘26 Bobby Buggs, ’28 Isaiah Dorsainvil, ’26 Maddox Melancon

Coach Spivey should feel optimistic about this season. He has a stable of senior guards, which may be the most important thing to have when the post season arrives. Dwayne Lawton has emerged as a go-to player in the back court, while O’Davion Thompson continues to bring athleticism and versatility to the high post. The Bulldoggs have a similar senior inside-out duo of Bobby Buggs and Maddox Melancon. Buggs will soon make college coaches kick themselves for not recruiting him sooner. He is proving more with every outing that he is college ready. 

Berkmar vs. Mount Vernon 2:30pm

Berkmar:
2025 Record 8-17
Coach – William Witherspoon
’26 Yousef Othman, ’26 Andre Sherrod, ’26 Jayvon Rampersant 

Mount Vernon:
2025 Record 15-13, State Tournament Appearance
Coach – Reed Dungan
’26 Darrell Dickens III, ’27 Quint McGrath

Coach Witherspoon ought to see more success in year two at the helm for the Patriots. The return of Jayvon Rampersant is an indicator that more wins are in store on Pleasant Hill Road. The Mustangs will lean on the back court tandem of Darrell Dickens III and Quint McGrath. Their skill sets ought to complement each other as Dickens is a solid play maker, and McGrath is a consistent shooter from distance. 

Paidea vs. Newton 1:00pm 

Paidea:
2026 Record 18-12, Elite 8 Appearance
Coach – Eddie Johnson
’26 CJ Harper (Old Dominion)

Newton:
2025 Record 21-10, Class 6A Runners-Up
Coach – Barry Browner
’26 Jared White, ’26 Cayden Young

Paidea’s strategy of playing a tough non-region schedule paid off last year with an Elite 8 finish. This year they will ride that momentum and the play making of CJ Harper. Harper looks to entrench his name as one of the best guards in the city. Coach Barry Browner lost key contributors from last season’s runner-up team. He will call upon seniors Jared White and Cayden Young to get the season started on the right foot. 

Kell vs. Greene County 11:30pm 

Kell
2025 Record 22-7, Sweet 16 Appearance
Coach – Jermaine Sellers
’27 Zach Graves, ’27 Trey Smith

Greene County:
2025 Record – 22-8, Final 4 Appearance
Watchlist: TBD

Kell High School has been one of the most successful programs in the metro area over the past five years. This year they will lean upon a pair of junior guards to keep the Longhorns on that same trajectory. Zach Graves has proven himself as a consistent play maker on the summer circuit. Trey Smith has returned from injury to solidify his reputation as an all-around player who contributes with shot making and defense.  Greene County is looking to re-establish themselves this year after losing most of last season’s contributors. 

Archer vs. Lanier 10:00am 

Archer:
2025 Record 18-11, State Tournament Appearance
Coach – Antoine Stroud
’26 Raheem Dyce, ‘26 TJ Tunstall

Lanier:
2025: 14-16 Record, Sweet 16 Appearance
Coach – Branden Mayweather
Watchlist: ’27 DJ Bembery, ’27 Reshard Slaughter

Coach Antoine Stroud has continued to carry the Archer tradition of toughness and pressure defense. This season a pair of senior guards in Raheem Dyce and TJ Tunstall are ready to stamp their names for posterity’s sake in Lawrenceville. The Longhorns from Sugar Hill have a pair of junior guards that are emerging for coach Mayweather. Another post season appearance may be on the horizon if they can find their stride before region tournament time.