OTR Hoops: Sunday Standouts from Carolina Mania – April 11, 2024
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, – On the Radar Hoops brought its team of media members and staff to host the Carolina Mania. Many of the top sponsored programs and independent teams squared off in quality competition. Here is a final report from the standout performers on Sunday of the event.
By: Jonathan Hemingway
Perry Taylor – Upward Stars – 2025
Taylor is a fundamental guard with a bit of swag to his game. You know it when you see it. And with Taylor he can turn the corner to finish in the paint. At the same time, he can scan the floor and find the open player in the half court. We watched him put up double digits in a Sunday afternoon morning game and was impressed with his poise under pressure.
AJ Austin – Upwards Stars – 2025
Austin is an athlete to track this spring and summer. He is a great athlete with size, length, and mobility. He does most of his damage offensively in transition and in traffic in the lane. However, he has a defensive range that is notable. He can defend multiple positions on the court and will be active in trapping situations.
Cooper Clark – BTB XXV – 2025
The Nashville native put on a shooting clinic on Sunday. A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, he shows a consistent high release on his perimeter jumper. He does a good job of hunting shots within the halfcourt offense. He lets the ball find him. He is an ideal floor spacer in the game of modern offenses.
Zanquel Baldwin – Karolina Underrated – 2025
Baldwin is a high energy guard who makes plays with the ball in his hands. He has a zeal in his eyes that is worthy of respect. He punctures the defense with a quick first step and has the muscle to finish through flailing arms. Baldwin’s passion combined with his on-court instincts earn him a spot on this list.
Caiden Butler – Elite Game – 2027
Butler is a promising prospect with size and skill. We took note of his ball handling skill in the open court. He projects as a player who can play multiple positions in the back court. He also has the instinct to score buckets off the dribble as well. With continued work and attention to detail, we expect to see Butler again in future years.
Imran Butt – Team Breakdown – 2027
Butt is a prospect with terrific upside. He has size, versatility, and presents a positive attitude on and off the court. We observed his shooting range as well as his defensive range. His long arms and coordination give us reason to believe that can blossom into a complete player in upcoming years. He currently plays along the frontline as a combo forward, but we project that he can turn into a full-time wing soon.
Kyrese Williams – Garner Road – 2027
Williams is a high-octane playmaker. He rips up the court and leaves defenders leaning in the wrong direction. Although he can create his own shot consistently, we were impressed by his willingness to dish to teammates for easy shots. The freshman is on a trajectory that will earn him more attention soon.
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.
