OTR Hoops: Battle at the Beach Day 1 Standouts – May 3, 2025

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- On The Radar Hoops presents its third high school event in the Sunshine State of the season, with the latest being the Battle at the Beach. Here is who stood out on the Opening Day of the event.

By: Ross Van De Griek

2026 6-7 SF Xander Bluhm (Oviedo Magic)

Bluhm, A 6-7 junior small forward, continues to have an impressive spring where he showed some elite footwork as well as having the ability to stretch the floor on the offensive end. Bluhm was knocking down 3’s off the catch as well as showing confidence in shooting off the bounce. His inside-out game around the rim has also improved, where he continues to be effective.

 

2026 6-0 CG Ethan Chevres (Elite 8 Select)

Chevres is quick and shifty when it comes to playing the two-guard position, as he showed his lightning-quick release of his jump shot, where he knocked down some tough shots over bigger defenders on the offensive end. He was also unafraid when it came to being in full-attack mode where he was finishing at the front of the rim with a ton of confidence while absorbing contact. On the defensive end, Chevres guarded both on and off the ball at a high level using his speed and ability to change direction with the opposing ball-handler, where he was very active in the passing lanes.

 

2027 6-2 PG Jeremiah Jones (HoopGrind)

Jeremiah Jones is a quick and shifty guard who looks to make the right reads on the offensive end. Although he didn’t light up the scoreboard with his strong knack for knocking down perimeter shots off the catch, he used his multi-guard skills to make the winning and unselfish plays.

 

 

2026 6-10 PF Hendrix Loughridge (PSB Tampa Bay Robbie)

Loughridge showed a ton of poise and patience while policing the paint on the offensive end, where he got off to a slow start in the first half of Game 2 against Strive 4 Excellence. In the second half, Loughridge scored 14 of his 20 points in a tough loss and also corralled 12 rebounds, with eight of them coming on the offensive end. On the defensive end, Loughridge used his length, which made it challenging for opposing players to get off a solid shot and also limited second-chance scoring opportunities.

 

2026 6-3 SG Tyler McKnight (ZCamp Elite)

McKnight pushed the pace on the offensive end with his strong knack for shooting from the perimeter, where he finished with a game-high 27 points on six made 3-pointers in their second game of the day, which was a win over Black Sheep Elite. McKnight’s high IQ and court awareness continue to speak high volumes, whether he was playing the primary point guard position or his play off the ball. Look for him to continue having a promising spring and summer as he heads into his senior season.

 

2027 6-5 SF Joe Joseph (Southeast Elite 16U)

Joseph is a versatile wing who is comfortable when it comes to playing an inside-out game on the offensive end, where he is at his best when it comes to catch-and-shoot situations. Joseph also has a ton of confidence when it comes to getting to the front of the rim, where he is unafraid of scoring through contact. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and applies constant pressure in the passing lanes using his length and frame to his advantage.

 

2026 6-2 SF Justin Richburg (Carolina Legacy Assault)

Richburg is a crafty guard who displayed a smooth handle where he was knocking down tough, contested shots off the catch as well as off the bounce. When he was the primary ball-handler on the offensive end, he displayed his strong IQ and made the right plays to set his teammates up for a great shot. On the defensive end, Richburg was very versatile, where he could guard positions 1 through 3, whether it was in the full-court or guarding in the half-court, he made the right reads, and he played strong defense without fouling.

 

2028 5-7 PG Ryan Harper (Oviedo Magic)

Harper is a smooth and quick guard in the open court, where he was scoring on all three levels on the offensive end. He was effective whether it was off the catch or bounce, and displayed great court vision of knowing where his teammates were on the cuts, as well as coming off pick-and-roll situations. On the defensive end, Harper was an absolute pest where he guarded all 94-feet and was very active using his athleticism and quick reaction skills, turning defense into offense.