OTR Rocky Top Invitational: Standout Bigs (Rickers) – May 10, 2023

On The Radar hit the Tennessee mountains this weekend for the annual Rocky Top Invitational, a loaded slate of games at Rocky Top Sports World. Programs from Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and other southeastern states brought a collection of new eye-catchers as well as some familiar faces from OTR’s spring circuit. These are a handful of bigs that stood out over the weekend.

By: Cam Rickers

2023 F Jake Hatch – Hoop Squad

Jake Hatch’s combination of size and skill may surpass that of any player I saw this weekend. At 6’10, Hatch is a force inside and has natural instincts for protecting the rim. Offensively, he knocked down several three-pointers and showed that he can stretch the floor at the next level. UVA-Wise got a steal when Hatch committed back in March.

2026 C Cody Peck – Carolina Courts Elite

Cody Peck showed flashes of skill and immense potential this weekend for Carolina Courts. Peck is 6’8 and super mobile with soft hands and nimble feet. He used his size and length to alter a ton of shots around the rim. At times, he also showed the ability to handle it in the open floor. It’s still early for Peck but the tools are there for him to develop into a legitimate college prospect.

2025 F Jalen Chandler – Alabama Generals

Jalen Chandler was one of the most impactful players we saw all weekend, carrying the Alabama Generals at times and scoring some big crunch time buckets. He’s got a solid 6’6 frame and hits the boards with tenacity. Chandler wants to get to the rim and knows how to get there, scoring on a number of drives and backdowns. He consistently scored in double-figures all weekend and controlled the paint for the Generals.

2024 C Dirk Degraaf – Grassroots North Carolina

Dirk Degraaf had an excellent weekend in Tennessee, generating some worthy chatter amongst scouts and coaches. Degraaf is hard to miss at 6’10 and plays up to his size. He scored it efficiently around the basket and ate up boards too. Rarely do we see big men with the motor that Degraaf has, always playing hard and chasing down loose balls. With Degraaf’s combination of size, production, and effort, I expect the offers to start rolling in soon.

Cam Rickers has lived in Georgia his whole life and joined OTR as scout/evaluator this spring. He spent the year prior scouting for PrepHoops, working hard to make a name for himself within the grassroots scene. In addition to his work for OTR and PrepHoops, he is also the Recruiting & Scouting Director for Wood Elite. You can reach him at camrickers12@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @CamRickersHoops