OTR Hoops: Underclassmen Prospects from The Opening – March 17, 2025

MARIETTA, Georgia, – The OTR spring circuit kicks off with The Opening this weekend. Teams from all around the state came to get competition and exposure. Here is a look at a list of underclassmen who are ready to take the next step after this event.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Noah Jones – Elite Playmakers – 2027

Jones was one of the top shooters we watched on Sunday afternoon. He has a compact and confident release that allows him to extend his range to well beyond the arc. Jones’ primary responsibility for his team is to handle the ball as a point guard. He is an unselfish player who will make the extra pass and be sure his team is in the right set. However, when the ball is rotated back around, he is ready to fire it up from deep.

Milton Henry – Elite Playmakers – 2027

Henry is an intriguing swing-forward. He presents a lanky frame and long arms, which allow him to affect the game on either end of the court. He impacts the game as a rebounder and a paint scorer. He did a good job of using his body to create angles for shots in traffic during the game we watched. He uses his athleticism and footwork to produce consistently for his team.

Reid Adams – Georgia Canes – 2027

Adams is a gifted forward with size and skill. We watched him work the middle of the floor as a rebounder and paint scorer. However, his talent stretches beyond the front line. He can face up in the high post and knock down open jumpers. Adams looks to be just coming into his own as a prospect. We will keep an eye on his development soon.

Adrian Dillard – Georgia Canes – 2027

Dillard is a knockdown shooter from range. He shoots the ball with confidence and can catch fire in an instant. We took note of his expertise when he drained 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions in his team’s match-up on Sunday afternoon. Given his specialty, he can shift the momentum of a game in an instant.

Hudson Huff – Atlanta Timberwolves – 2028

We loved how Huff played the game when we sat courtside watching him and the Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon. He is a heady guard who plays under control but can sling daggers when given the opportunity. He shares time in the back court as the point guard and will slide to the wing to run the offense at times as well. His fundamental skill and marksmanship as a shooter make him a reliable option for his team.

Josh Cooper – Greater Than Academy – 2028

Cooper is a player to put in the notebook as a prospect of interest for the future. He is a great athlete with springs to deliver highlight dunks in the lane. He can get off the floor with quickness to finish and block shots. Right after we saw him flush a dunk, he stepped to the top of the key and swished a 3-point shot. Given this diversity of skill, we can expect more production as he matures and gets older.

Keenon Verkerk – North Metro Elite – 2028 

Verkerk will be a player everyone will know about in a year or so. He is 6-foot-8 and showing footwork and touch on the block. One could classify him still as in a developmental stage, but the freshman flashed signs of emerging talent last weekend. With repetition and earned confidence, Verkerk will soon be a double-double threat each time he takes the floor.

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 CoachHemi@gmail.com and follow him on twitter @CoachHemi.