OTR Hoops: Upperclassmen Review from the Atlanta Classic – April 3, 2024
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia, – April 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 last weekend. Top independent teams went head-to-head with shoe sponsored teams giving the classic a very competitive environment. Here is a final look at the event with an eye towards the upperclassmen.
By: Jonathan Hemingway
Landon Geren – 1 Family Hoops – 2025
Geren is a shooting specialist who brings energy and IQ to the court. He circled the arc in the half court and sprints the floor in transition to find room for his shot. Geren’s energy on the defensive end should not be overlooked either. He showed anticipation skills and the ability to adjust on the fly.
Austin Leslie – Atlanta Celtics – 2025
The Celtics’ roster is loaded with talent from top to bottom. A player who may not always get the headlines, but nonetheless should garner attention, is Leslie from The Rock (FL). He is a versatile 6-foot-7 forward who contributes in several areas of the game. We watched him work the high post and stick a few perimeter jumpers. He can reverse the ball in the half-court offense with timely passes. It is his blue-collar approach to defense and rebounding that gave us the hint that he is consistently productive player who has a winning mentality.
Daniel Ogunyemi – Atlanta Celtics – 2025
Ogunyemi is another Celtics player with size and skill. We watched the lefty score 17 points in a win on Saturday afternoon. His ability to work either end of the hi-lo gives him a variety of opportunities to score in the half court. The Milton High School product can mix it up in traffic by altering shots and snatching rebounds. We predict his name to trend in the next year.
Khalil Green – Devin Butts Elite – 2024
Green is one of the most productive available seniors this spring. He hits the double-digit mark in scoring consistently and finds ways to make winning plays for his team. A three-time state champion with Stratford Academy (Macon, Georgia), he has proven he knows how to play in critical situations. We watched him score a game winner for DBE on Saturday afternoon. Green is a top-notch athlete who is ready for the collegiate level.
Hannibal Smith – AJ Bouye – 2025
Smith has been earning praise from OTR evaluators all spring long. He earns more remarks in this recap after his showing last Saturday. He has a unique blend of potential and productivity. There is still room for growth in his game, but he also produces numbers each time he laces up for AJ Bouye. He has length, size, and mobility which are critical attributes for coaches looking to fill their front line. He can start the break with defensive rebounds, but he is equally capable of being the finisher at the front end of the break. Given his athletic attributes and productivity so far on the travel circuit, we expect to see his name more often this spring.
Keymond Maze – Elite Playmakers – 2025
We got our first look at Maze on Sunday morning. He is a high energy combo guard who is great in transition. He sports an explosive first step and proves that he can finish through contact. His game is more than just quick twitch jumping and speed in the open court, though. He showed range on his jumper in the half court, making him a prospect with promise.
Emery McCurdy – Georgia Canes – 2025
We were impressed with McCurdy’s game in the opening hours of the event. He is a guard capable of playing both back court positions. He gets a lot of mileage out of his first step and sticking the midrange jumper. He is also effective in transition as a playmaker and shot finisher. We like him as a glue guy who contributes important minutes for the Canes this travel season.
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.
