CUMMING, GA – We move to Part 2 of our Team Blasts from OTR’s The Opening, with 6 more teams from the action at Dobbs Creek Rec. By: Keith Agran ManUp 17U Unsigned IMPRESSION-MAKERS: 2022 Stephen Lewis, 2022 Quay Harrison, 2022 Keshawn Evans SUMMARY: We’re capping our Impression-Makers at 3 per team, but this team features Mason Lockhart as well in what is going to be very entertaining, and hopefully leads to more offers for these talented seniors. Lewis looked really sharp and really comfortable handling the point, the likely destination for......
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CUMMING, GA – The excitement of the start of travel season was on full display this past weekend for OTR’s The Opening, held at multiple facilities in Forsyth and Gwinnett. I was honed in on the predominantly 17U grouping that played most of their games at Dobbs Creek Rec and their six courts (but there were some 16U’s mixed in). As the season wears on I will surely dip much more closely into the other age groups. With all the names making impressions, I thought we’d do some capsule Team Blasts on......
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WOODSTOCK, GA – One of the premier Showcase events in the ATL-Metro took place March 13 at Etowah HS, and over 140 kids participated in the annual Southern Hoops Report’s Spring Showcase. From unsigned 2022’s down to 2025’s, here’s a lightning look at the guys who couldn’t be missed: By: Keith Agran Tre Chatman | 6-5 | SG | TSF Prep | 2022 Virtually unstoppable most of the day with a variety of power moves in close and smooth agile variety from other ranges, can play the bully game or face you......
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SNELLVILLE, GA – Was able to swing over last Saturday to Snellville from Kennesaw and the SBT Combine to take in some action from the Double Trouble Invitational at one of their sites, Brookwood HS. Here are 5 guys who caught my eye over 5 afternoon hours: By: Keith Agran Adonai Mussie | PF | Parkview | No Excuses Elite 16U (pictured above) Distinctive Parkview flavor with No Excuses, and the athletes across the roster were as expected Panther-level. Long and lean at around 6-8, Mussie was an absolute eraser around the......
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ATLANTA, GA – We listed our first five of ten unsigned 2022’s in Part 1 that can definitely be difference-makers a the next level. Here are 5 more: By: Keith Agran Braden Sparks | PG | McEachern Loved the sheer athleticism of this year’s McEachern iteration, and along with fellow senior Mike Jacobs, Sparks was at the forefront of that. Had some monster scoring games this year finally in a position to be the man on that end, after spending the lion’s share of his career prior as a superb defender and......
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ATLANTA, GA – As the 2022 spring and summer grassroots season gets set to roll, with a new and still-evolving recruiting landscape taking shape around them, the class of 2022 has had to endure those changes on the fly as they pursue dreams of playing at the next level. Here are the first 5 of 10 guys that most know around town can help a program at the next level, and will continue to have a chance to show off their skills on the OTR circuit and beyond. By: Keith Agran Braden......
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CARROLLTON, GA – Turned the buggy westward on Saturday for a trip to UWG, for the 6A semifinal doubleheader there. By: Keith Agran 6A Semifinal #1 BUFORD 73, SEQUOYAH 72 PLAYER OF THE GAME: Malachi Brown (20 pts) WOLVES NOTES: Brown’s incredible block with his team up 1 inside 20 seconds was the saving play of the game, and he followed that with 2 crucial FT’s that sealed the one-point win. It was another unsung performance for the 2023 point guard, who as a massively important part of this Wolves unit, often goes overlooked......
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BUFORD, GA – Got the buggy rolling to Buford Arena for day one of two semifinal days there featuring 7A and A-Private Friday. By: Keith Agran A-Private Semifinal #1 GREENFOREST 68, HERITAGE (NEWNAN) 40 PLAYER OF THE GAME: Florian Tenebay (15 pts) EAGLES NOTES: So much is naturally made of the incredible size for Greenforest, and it makes their zone college-level when two 7-footers and Jaylen Peterson at 6-7 patrol the back. But the key to this team to me is Tenebay, a seriously underrated big guard at 6-5 who can shoot it......
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ATLANTA, GA – My playoff trips to Atlanta-proper continued earlier this week for the Elite 8, this after a scheduled pop by to Tri-Cities hosting Chapel Hill in 5A was thwarted, as was the subsequent NFHS backup plan. So we caught a terrific Norcross at North Gwinnett 7A game on NFHS, and then hit the Emory-area for Druid Hills hosting McDonough in one of the best atmospheres I’ve seen in my 3 years on the trail. 7A Elite 8 (on NFHS) NORCROSS 58, NORTH GWINNETT 53 PLAYER OF THE GAME: London Johnson (16 pts)......
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ATLANTA, GA – Dropped in on 2 first-round games this week, both within the city limits of Atlanta, catching A-Private and 5A action to get coverage rolling. By: Keith Agran A-Private 1st Round GALLOWAY 59, WALKER 57 PLAYER OF THE GAME: Anthony Arrington (40 pts) SCOTS NOTES: Another incredible display by the shockingly still available 6-2 Arrington, as he was literally all of the Scots offense for a period in the first half before his mates got on board. Walker was active defensively in a variety of zones to combat Arrington, but even with......
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