OTR Hoops: Proven Grounds Saturday Standouts from Tarrant HS – April 30, 2024
Tarrant, AL- Parts of the On the Radar Hoops Proven Grounds were held at Tarrant High School with a number of 15U and 16U players and programs on display. Here is a look at some of the standouts from Saturday’s Day 1 action.
By: Joel Hillsman
2027 Justin Vining– Carolina Pressure 15U. Forget the size, Vining is a BALLSPLAYERS ballplayer. He knows how to score, dish, defend, when to control the pace, when to attack, when to pull the jumper and leads cheers from the bench. Vining averaged 21ppg in the three Saturday games by getting to the basket at will because of his pace. In transition he always gets to the middle of the floor and makes sound decisions based on the numbers and if the ball was stopped or not stopped. He knows how to use his body as a shield, can shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor, plays sound defense without fouling and is always communicating with his coaches and teammates. The ceiling is extremely high for Vining as his name will be in conversations in the next few years.
2026 Omari Woodard– Team Carroll Premiere 16U- Woodard is a skilled lefty that keeps the defense honest by scoring inside or stepping out for the mid-range jumper. Woodard’s activity around the basket on both ends always has him in a position to impact a play whether it is rebounding or contesting shots. Woodard’s overall game is versatile, and his natural motor is hard to ignore.
2027 Max Etienne-Atlanta Xpress 2027 Blue- Atlanta Xpress 2027 Blue lost four games, all by five points or less and two in overtime with only five players. Etienne in those games put on a shooting display that must be noted. Max can flat shoot the basketball from anywhere on the floor and more so off the bounce than the catch for now. Defensively he knows when to gamble and when not to in addition to getting plenty of deflections, he rebounded well from his guard spot.
2027 Keelan Johnson– Mobile Bay Warriors Elite in two games we tracked Johnson averaged 16.6ppg with a lot of those coming by playing through contact in and around the rim from off-ball movement. Johnson is an aggressive player on both ends who seeks to make a play on every trip. He guards his yard, looks to get others involved and runs the floor in transition. His slashing style to go with his array of driving ability could be his trademark however he showed he can hit perimeter shots also.
2026 Karez Demory– Team Carroll Premiere 16U- Demory has no problem outworking you. He gets all the 50/50 balls, helps the helper, guards his yard, and runs the floor exceptionally well with and without the ball. Demory is always under control and uses his athleticism to his advantage but does not rely heavily on it. He balances his attacking both on the ball and off the ball and his court awareness led to multiple assists in the open floor and in the half court.
2027 Johnny Towry– JSI Elite 9th Black- Towry rebounded well on both ends throughout the weekend, contested shots, seal opponents in some post situations and scored around the rim. Towry runs the floor well and uses his 6’6 size and length to close passing lanes and disrupt the opponent’s offense.
2025 Tate Bailey– Panhandle Prospects 17U- Bailey is a good shooter off the bounce or the catch and moves well without the ball. He is sneaky athletic, plays within the flow of the offense and is a sound defender.
2027 Chase Phifer- Fast Five- Phifer has good potential. He scored in the paint with both hands, played off the ball well with solid screen actions and good court awareness. Phifer has good length and strength that he uses to be active defensively and disrupt the offense.
2027 Damien Phelps– Atlanta Xpress 2027 Blue- Phelps is a lefty that is returning from an injury which cost him this past high school season. He puts pressure on the defense with is straight-line drives, picks his scoring spots within the natural flow of the game and is an aggressive defender. The more he gets comfortable from the injury we will see his game continue to expand throughout the spring and summer.
2025 Rashawn Elzy– Panhandle Prospect- Elzy is balanced guard that can score and facilitate equally. He attacks the defense in the half court and in the open floor, possesses a quality pull-up jumper, sets up teammates with the initial pass or makes the extra pass. He has active hands defensively and communicates on both ends.
