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OTR Memorial Day Classic – Headliners – June 6, 2023

OTR Memorial Day Classic - Headliners - June 6, 2023
June 6, 2023

ORLANDO, Florida, – Hot dogs on the grill are what the average American may do over the Memorial Day weekend, but for basketball fanatics like us, the gym is where we ended up at the end of May. The OTR Memorial Day Classic provided a bookend to the spring travel season. A final opportunity for players and their teams to compete and get covered on the travel circuit. The Orlando edition of this tournament was a good one. Plenty of competition and standout players. Here is a first look at the players who caught our eye.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Class of 2024 forward Asa Newell is a consensus top 20 player nationally. A 6-foot-9 frontline player flaunted his talent for all to see with his 1 Family team over the weekend. The left-hander is a threat to stretch the floor with his jumper while possessing the springs to flush dunks in the lane. Newell can dominate without having to shift into overdrive. He plays the game with ease and has a counter move for any defender who tries to take away his first move. Newell is perfect for the modern game. The length, offensive versatility, and being a shot blocking presence at the rim gives him the potential to play 3 through 5 at the collegiate level and most likely beyond.

One of the top unsigned seniors at the event was guard Chris Mubiru with the Showtime Ballers. He is a college-ready athlete who could give a boost of scoring and athleticism to multiple programs as a freshman. He got the fans off the seats with high-flying dunks in transition. Mubiru presents a calm experience that is hard to replicate for an incoming freshman.

Class of 2025 point guard Mikel Brown Jr. put his stamp on the weekend with his play with Austin Rivers Elite. He is a poised and skilled lead guard that looks to have a firm grasp of the position heading into his junior season. Brown puts us in the mind of Georgia native and University of Michigan commit, Christian Anderson who is a 2024 prospect. Brown might be a bit bigger physically and looks to be a better passer now. With all that being said, Brown is on a steep upward trajectory.

Class of 2024 wing Tyson Wilson earned his way back into the OTR write-up section with his play with Athletes Of Influence. Wilson is a skilled offensive player with high level athleticism. He continues to reveal parts of his game that were once unseen. His mid-post footwork and turnaround jumpers were a revelation in this evaluation. He projects to be a player that could turn into a late shot clock play creator at the collegiate level.

Class of 2024 wing Scott Verboncoeur earned his way on to this list with an outstanding effort on Sunday afternoon. He along with a few Q6 Elite teammates connected on 17 3-pointers in total in a runaway win. Verboncoeur is a good-looking athlete at 6-6 and a consistent 3-point stroke. He also showed some surprising hops as he did a few chin-ups on the rim after dunking in traffic. The rising senior has the earmarks of a talent that should thrive at the collegiate level.

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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