OTR Hoops – Georgia Hoops Interstate Classic Standouts Part II – January 16, 2024
ATHENS, Georgia, – The third annual Georgia Hoops Interstate Classic took place on Saturday at Cedar Shoals High School. Seven games matched up several up-and-coming teams in the state of Georgia and even featured a heavy hitter from outside the state. We took notes and compiled notes from the event. Here is a second rundown of top performers from last weekend.
By: Jonathan Hemingway
Caleb Samples – Union Grove – 2025
Samples is one of the more promising juniors that we have evaluated this year. He is a 6-foot-5 wing with size, athleticism, and skill. We saw him knock down a few jumpers and have flashes of athleticism that show serious upside for the next level. He finished with 15 points in a win for the Wolverines in the final game of the night.
Cedric Taylor – Creekside Christian – 2025
Taylor is a talented forward with size and skill. He is a 6-10 prospect who affects the game around the rim with rebounding and scoring. He also showed range and footwork while facing the basket from the top of the key. Given this combination of skills and physical tools, Taylor should be one of the more pursued prospects this spring and summer.
Bilal Osman – Creekside Christian – 2025
Taylor’s teammate, Osman, was another prospect who showed potential on Saturday evening. He is a 6-8 wing-forward who has terrific physical gifts. While he has the size and strength to impact the game in traffic, he also has the agility and footwork to play the game around the arc. We see Osman as a potential combo forward who could turn into an ideal 3&D prospect at the collegiate level.
Alius Bawser – Victory Christian – 2024
Bawser helped get Victory Christian get off to a quick start in a win over Creekside Christian on Saturday. He scored 12 first half points running alongside Xavier Perry in the backcourt. Bawser is a confident shooter and good size at 6-3. The senior shooting guard is poised to end his high school career on a high note.
Alexander Koch – Cedar Shoals – 2024
Koch is a dependable anchor for the Cedar Shoals offense in the paint. He scored 20 points in the Saturday evening night cap. The 6-7 forward proved to be an opportunist on the offensive end by cleaning up the offensive glass. On the defensive end, Koch demonstrated his timely shot blocking skills. His ability to time opponents’ shots and swat them from the air makes him an ideal anchorman on the frontline for the Jaguars.
Manny Green – Cedar Grove – 2026
Green’s game has been well documented on the OTR website in the last year. And he is only a sophomore. Green backed up his reputation with a 15-point outing in a win over Walnut Grove on Saturday afternoon. The 6-7 wing excelled with his turnaround jumpers in the mid-range. He hit several key jumpers down the stretch to ensure the victory for the Saints.
Izaiah Keever-Simms – Central Gwinnett – 2025
Keever-Simms has heated up recently. The junior guard is earning a reputation as one Gwinnett county’s top shooting guards. He left the Interstate Classic with 15 points notched entirely on 3-pointers. Playing the shooting guard opposite of capable playmakers such as Malik Rideout and Tim Smith gives him plenty of looks from beyond the arc. Plus, he seems to execute coach Marcus Spivey’s halfcourt offense effectively as well.
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.
