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OTR Memorial Day Classic – Standouts Part II – June 6, 2023

OTR Memorial Day Classic - Standouts Part II - June 6, 2023
June 7, 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 second look at the players who caught our eye.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Class of 2024 guard Gabriel Chang earned recognition once again with Team Breakdown. He is a versatile 6-3 guard who can fulfill several roles for a roster. We got a firsthand look at his primary ball handling skills, which included him attacking the lane from the top of the key. He is also a pesky rebounder and defender on the interior. He finds himself getting a hand on the ball or getting a deflection in traffic. Chang is a prospect who could lead a team in scoring or tabulate stats in 4 or more categories nightly.

Guards who can produce in multiple ways and can fulfill several roles will always be in high demand at the next level. Although specialty players will have their niche, coaches are generally looking for players that can fit into different types of lineup constructions. Class of 2024 guard Zion Mitchell fits the above description very well for 1 Family. He can play the point, or he can slide to the wing and play a complementary role and still be productive. He can hit the spot up 3-pointer or he can be the primary distributor in the half court. And perhaps most importantly, Mitchell can defend multiple positions in the back court given his size and athleticism. He is a player that should not be slept upon.

We took note of class of 2025 guard Talon Brooks from Pressure Elite. He initially drew our attention with his 3-point shooting in an early game. Upon deeper evaluation, however, we gained appreciation for Brooks all-around floor game. He is an adept passer and possesses physical strength that allows him to bump and grind with the best athletes at this tournament. Brooks was not particularly thrilled to stop for a picture after a game that his team lost. But we did not take offense, as this is a attribute of a true competitor.

Any list of top performers and playmakers from the Memorial Day Classic must include class of 2024 guard Brandon Callahan from 1 of 1 Elite. He is a top shelf athlete who thrives at driving and playmaking off the dribble. Without official scoring we cannot report any stat tallies, but it would not be a stretch to say that Callahan put up several 20-point outings during the weekend. We are tracking Callahan as one of the top guards from the Tar Heel State this year.

South Florida Elite has been a standout team at OTR events this spring. 2024 prospects Hedrens Bartelus and Jeremy Innocent have drawn much of the attention and rightfully so. However, a player that has quietly played his role and been instrumental in the team’s success is Chanler Joseph. The 2024 guard plays the game the right way. He rarely forces the issue and consistently makes the right pass. We appreciated his defensive effort and his vision with the pass. Keep tabs on him this July as he is poised for a level up.

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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