OTR Hoops: Underclassmen Review from the Atlanta Classic – March 31, 2024
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia, – The last weekend of March is here which means the spring travel season is officially at full tilt. On the Radar Hoops hosted more than 100 teams at the Atlanta Classic in three locations in Gwinnett County. Top independent teams went head-to-head with shoe sponsored teams giving the classic a very competitive environment. Here is a look at underclassmen standouts from the event.
By: Jonathan Hemingway
Alexander Blue – Team Huncho – 2027
Blue broke onto the radar on Sunday morning with a solid showing with Team Huncho. He was in double digits in points and filled the stat sheet in several other categories including rebounds and blocks. He is a 6-foot-6 forward from Huntsville, Alabama, who projects as an impact prospect at the high school level. With time and development, we expect for him to become a target for the next level. The well-built freshman can power his way to the rim as well as connect on jumpers from beyond the arc.
LJ Bird – Team Dickerson – 2028
Bird has yet to step in the halls of a high school, but he looks to be ready for the competition that lies ahead. He currently plays along the front line for his travel team. He uses his length score, rebound, and affect the game defensively. We were impressed with his footwork, agility, and his use of both hands to finish in traffic. We expect to see Bird continue to grow his perimeter skill set and become inside-out threat in future years.
Aiden Moses – Team Dickerson – 2027
Moses plays the game with poise that is beyond his age. He displays confidence as a handler and can direct traffic in the back court. Moses drew attention in the Sunday afternoon game with his scoring acumen. He has soft touch on floaters and has the footwork and body control to get shots in the midrange.
RJ Perrymond – Tier 2 Hoops – 2027
We highlighted Perrymond’s name after watching his team take on Team Dickerson on Sunday. He is a good-sized guard with an ideal physique in the back court. His ball skills and dribble moves allowed him to shake defenders and get into the lane for easy finishes. His game is full of promise and should only grow if he stays in the gym working and gaining experience.
Jayson Jones – Elite Playmakers – 2026
Jones plays the game at full tilt. He attacks the lane with aggressiveness and flair. He led his team a victory on Sunday afternoon. We were impressed with his finishing skills around the rim. He has a way of hanging in the air for an extra split second and putting the ball on the back board with touch. Expect to hear his name more often in the next two years.
Colby Johnson – Lessons Learned Elite – 2026
Johnson is another guard who is tough to guard when he is attacking the rim. He is unphased when he gets a bump in traffic. He plays through it and finds a way to score whether a foul is called or not. Johnson’s tenacity is to be noticed and tracked throughout this travel season.
Dwight Magee – Jet Life Academy – 2026
Magee is one the top sophomore point guard prospects that we evaluated over the weekend. He plays the game with effort and intelligence. He has a feel for the game that is mature. He fools defenders into lunging at him and uses that to create plays. Magee is also an adept shooter. We saw him nail several threes in an opening game on Saturday morning. The show is just starting for the Louisiana native.
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.
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