OTR Sweet 16 Session 2: Standout Forwards – May 2, 2023
The April live periods are officially behind us, back-to-back weekends full of talented teams and college coaches for On The Radar. We saw several players leave the weekend with fresh new offers and others that are just beginning to peak interest. Here are a couple of forwards that made their mark this weekend.
By: Cam Rickers
2023 F Stephen Akwiwu – Atlanta Stars
For months, it has puzzled me that a guy like Stephen Akwiwu is still unsigned. He came out to play with the Atlanta Stars this weekend and reaffirmed my notions. Akwiwu is a strong and gifted athlete at 6’7, above the rim with power. His low post game has really come along and he looked good scoring it from the block this weekend. With a 3.9 GPA to pair with physical tools and motor, Akwiwu is going to be a steal for a lucky program this late in the game.
2024 F Allen Stoddard – Team Forrest
I’ve been steadily growing more and more fond of Stoddard’s game with each weekend and Session 2 was no different. Stoddard is 6’6, athletic, and has all the desirable tools of a small forward prospect. He’s already a great defender and works hard on the glass but there’s so much potential for Stoddard to develop into an offensive weapon with more time. He’ll be one to keep an eye on through his senior year as he and Tyler Hughes could surprise some people over at New Manchester.
2023 F Kaleel Stillman – SE Elite Gold
Kaleel Stillman was one of the top unsigned seniors we saw throughout at Session 2 and his fiery play style could have certainly drawn some potential suitors. Stillman is 6’10 but still fairly raw, lots of room for the offensive skillset to develop. However, his competitive spirit is uncoachable. Stillman battles inside and doesn’t back down from anyone which we learned in a matchup with AOT. He also carries a ton of upside as a rim protector with his energy and length.
2024 F Nnadozie Onyirimba – AOT
Nnadozie Onyirimba thrived in his role for AOT this weekend and provided a reliable compliment to Ace Bailey and Jamichael Davis. It seems as if Onyirimba is always in the right place at the right time, a countless number of points coming from dump-offs and putbacks. He was effective on the boards as well, quick getting off the ground. While he may not blow you away with savvy ball skills, Onyirimba’s activity and production are undeniable.
2024 F Zander Frazier – Team Dr1ven
Zander Frazier showed flashes of real intrigue this weekend, a strong 6’5 forward that can play multiple positions. Frazier’s 6’5 frame is as solid as they come and he can use that size to his advantage around the paint. However, his outside shot allows him to space the floor and be an effective perimeter scorer. He connected on a multitude of three-pointers throughout the weekend and while I need to see him some more, I’m intrigued by what I saw at Session 2.
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
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