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OTR FINAL RUN – Underlcassmen Report – August 1, 2023

OTR FINAL RUN - Underlcassmen Report - August 1, 2023
August 1, 2023

GAINESVILLE, Florida, – The On Radar Hoops Final Run concluded last weekend with a solid day of basketball. Player, coaches, and the teams they formed showed their dedication to competition and received the exposure they desired. Sunday allowed us to get a good look at many of the top underclassmen at the event. Here are the names we highlighted in our notes.

Class of 2025 Standouts

Heart and Hustle Elite proved true to their name as we saw them scrap out a tight win over the Treasure Coast Kings. More impressively, they did it with only five players. Ian Kyler caught fire in the first half scoring 17 points. He is a lengthy wing with shooting range. He also demonstrated the ball skill and body control to score off the dribble. His teammate, Adam Lipscomb, had a strong second half finishing with 18 points in the game. Lipscomb, a thin framed wing, showed his ability to get past the defense with a strong first step and finish shots off the move with soft touch in the paint. He too, can fill it up from distance when he has his feet square.

The Treasure Coast Kings featured several prospects to track this upcoming high school season. Warren Thomas is a guard that led the team in scoring in their match-up with Heart and Hustle. He is a crafty combo guard that has a knack for finding an open spot versus the opposition. Brooks Williams jumped out as a standout player. He is a 6-foot-6 forward/center with some spring in his legs. Built with broad shoulders and a strong lower body, Williams looks to have plenty of growth to the upside. He rattled the rims with some dunks and converted a soft baby hooks in traffic. Point guard Carmine Anroman looked to be the general of the squad. His ability to make plays, deliver timely passes, and score buckets at opportune moments is notable here.

Class of 2026 Standouts

We liked the production we saw from Jordan Wolrich all weekend with River City Hoops. The 6-6 lefty is a strong framed interior player with soft touch in traffic. His proved to be a reliable scorer in the last game of the day where he scored 22 points in a win. Just a rising sophomore, we expect Wolrich to stretch out a few more inches and become a consistent hi-lo threat.

Court Surgeons wing/forward Ethan Sabec completed a terrific weekend. Listed at 6-6, he plays a hybrid position for this squad, which is loaded with a talented back court. He produces as a frontline rebounder and scorer. However, we noticed the face-up skills as a passer and a cutter within the half court offense. Sabec plays with confidence and is often the go-to player for his team when a play needs to be made.

We saw a great game played between Team TMAC Spartans and the Court Surgeons. It was a back-and-forth game with the Spartans eventually pulling away for the win. Menthon ‘MJ’ McCalla was the primary reason why the game went the way it did. His game high 29 points were the difference. McCalla bullied his way through the taller and longer Court Surgeon defenders. He converted a few conventional 3-point plays and was generally a menace on the left block. McCalla showed some diversity of skill as well as he stepped out and hit a couple of face-up jumpers.

McCalla’s teammate, Jordan Gunter, earns praise as well with his shooting prowess. He knocked down four 3-pointers on his way to an 18-point effort versus the Court Surgeons. Gunter has a smooth release and has some bounce in his legs, which lead us to believe he could turn into an prototypical wing scorer as he matures.

Class of 2027 and 2028 Standouts 

Josiah Manrow is just getting started as a basketball player. He looks to have all the tools you would like to have a perimeter prospect. From his quick, agile footwork to his strong frame, Manrow is tough for opposing defenders to corral. He finds a way to get momentum downhill and then adeptly sidesteps lunging defenders. We did not get to see his jumper in this setting, but we were impressed with his overall game as he played against older prospects while with the Court Surgeons.

The lone middle school prospect to make the list is James Ratteree from Court Surgeons. He is a talented guard who plays with maturity and confidence. He attacks the lane with a quick first step and can score in traffic with a soft touch. We expect to hear his name much more in upcoming years.

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 JLHemingway@gmail.com and follow him on twitter @JL_Hemingway.


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