SUWANEE, GA – The 3-day hoop fest that is the Jared Cook Classic was held once again at North Gwinnett HS last week, and OTR was in the house for Day 2’s matchups. Some impressions: By: Keith Agran Langston Hughes vs Lambert RESULT: Lambert W 64-59 GAME NOTES: New Longhorn Head Coach Clay Wages has picked right up where Scott Bracco now of East Forsyth left off, as this group is organized and well-drilled in both the fundamentals and execution. Against what is traditionally one of the better defensive programs in the......
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CUMMING, GA – From Woodstock to Alpharetta to Sugar Hill, let’s look back on the 3 regular season contests I dropped in on this past week, as we’ll cover Saturday’s OTR Tipoff Classic from Norcross HS in 2 separate pieces in the coming days. By: Keith Agran River Ridge at Etowah (11/16/21) WHAT HAPPENED: Etowah W 67-42 – Playing without senior guard Grant Portera (food poisoning) and unable to get 6-11 senior center Braden Pierce enough quality touches, River Ridge just didn’t have enough overall firepower to stay with an Etowah team quickly establishing......
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TAVARES, FL – The folks at Florida AAU giant E1T1 put on their annual Faces of the Future Middle School Showcase this past Saturday at The Big House just north of Orlando, and the talent and performances from the young Florida prospects on hand were highly impressive. Having traveled the country quite a bit this year on both the middle school and high school grassroots scene, the youngsters on hand in Tavares were as good or better than anything I saw in 2021 for the 14U and under set. Some Superlatives, as......
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Atlanta, Ga – As opening night closes in this evening, we’ve been taking a look at 15 players to watch and breaking down what makes them special. We’ve gotten through the first 10, we finish our list with the final 5 today (in no particular order). David Thomas | 6-2 | PG | Eagle’s Landing | 2023 Has been a fast-rising prospect for 2 years now, vaulting through Camps and Showcases and often playing up and starring on the grassroots scene. Surrounded by seasoned and talented veterans with the Eagles he can be......
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10. NORCROSS LAST YEAR: 21-8 (2nd in Region 7-7A, lost 38-37 to North Gwinnett in 7A Sweet 16) TOP RETURNEES: London Johnson (6-4, JR. G), Jerry Deng (6-7, SR F), Mier Panoam (6-3, Jr, G), Samarion Bond (6-4, Jr. G), Hezekiah Flagg (6-3, SR, G), Aiden Sherrell (6-8, SO, F) SUMMARY: The transfer loss to Donda Academy in CA of top 10 nationally-ranked 2024 forward Jahki Howard doesn’t quite feel like Scoot Henderson leaving Kell, but it’s a significant blow to a team that with him despite their youth had legit components......
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Atlanta, Ga – As the opening weekend of action approaches, we’re taking a look at 15 players to watch and breaking down what makes them special. We start with 5 today, and will do 5 a day into Friday before the evening tipoffs (in no particular order). Stephon Castle | 6-6 | PG | Newton | 2023 With such size at the 1-spot it’s easy to be enamored with Castle’s measurables right out of the gate, but when you sit down and observe how he handles the ball and dissects defenses it......
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Gaddis Heath will look to help lead Westlake (GA) into a deep playoff run. 15. PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN LAST YEAR: 23-5 (1st in A-Private Region 5, lost 62-50 to Mount Pisgah in A-Private Sweet 16) TOP RETURNEES: Chance Thacker (6-5, SR, G), Tony Carpio (6-8, SR, F) SUMMARY: This team will ride the talents of Thacker and Carpio, as the two seniors have taken the impressive road and put together quite the story as two developing prospects a couple of years ago when I first saw them into dynamic and physical next-level players......
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SPARTANBURG, SC – The highly respected and vast Upward Stars organization hosted a Combine at the Upward Star Complex on Halloween Day, and among the nice turnout of players from North GA and the Carolinas, several put a “scare” into the rims and defenders alike. Here are some standouts from the day, many of whom already star within the Upward Stars organization: By: Keith Agran Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-6 | PF | A.C. Flora (SC) | 2023 (pictured above) Upward Stars guy, sticky hands and excellent activity on the glass and protecting......
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MT AIRY, GA – Habersham Central head coach Aric Mawdesley, together with North Georgia Report’s Adrian Penland, hosted an open gym for a nice group of North GA prospects looking to get extra exposure Oct. 20. Several Scouts were on hand along with myself and a nice turnout of colleges came to see what was an impressive group of athletes and skilled guys, many of whom are poised for biog seasons and bright futures at the next level. Some guys you couldn’t take your eye off of: By: Keith Agran Johnny Curry,......
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STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – Meadowcreek assistant Eric Smith followed up his very successful E’s Phenom Summer League with an equally well attended and successful Fall League at ISA, which had its last weekend of play Oct. 16. A few snippets on teams I saw in the early portion of the day’s schedule: By: Keith Agran GRAYSON KEY PLAYERS ON HAND: Amir Taylor (6-7, FR, C), Laz Mason (5-10, SO, G), Corey Gatlin II (6-1, SO, G) KEY PLAYERS NOT PRESENT: Chauncey Wiggins (6-9, SR, F), Tyrese Elliott (6-3, SR, G), Chad Moodie......
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