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OTR Sweet 16 Session II – First Impressions – May 2, 2023

OTR Sweet 16 Session II - First Impressions - May 2, 2023
May 3, 2023

MARIETTA, Georgia, – Session II of the OTR Sweet 16 kicked off with a bang on Friday night and did not let up until early Sunday evening. Teams from across the Southeast made their home in Northwest Metro Atlanta for the weekend hoping to earn some time in front of college coaches during the NCAA viewing period. Here are the players that made the most of their weekend below.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Perhaps the player the helped his profile the most this past weekend was Andrew Lavigne with the Georgia Stunners. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard came out on fire on Friday night scoring 26 points, which included eight 3-pointers. His textbook shooting form and athletic frame make him an ideal next level candidate. The South Paulding product finished the weekend with several more stellar outings earning his place on this list.

Class of 2024 wing Lucas Lima caught our attention on Saturday morning with his 19-point outing with Game Speed Elite. We like Lima’s size (6-6) and his offensive versatility. He showed some rise and dunk off the dribble. He complements that with consistent perimeter shooting. Lima’s game is ready-made for the next level given his size, skill, and offensive versatility.

Team Speights wing Clay Scofield has earned recognition several times this spring from our staff. He earned even more this weekend. The 6-5 left-hander plays the game with supreme confidence. His coaches encourage him to play the game with abandon and that strategy is paying off with productivity. He is connecting on a high volume of 3-pointers while also finding buckets in the lane and points at the free throw lane. Tracking Scofield’s progression this year will be on the radar of our staff.

Kids that score buckets get the headlines. Right or wrong, that is how the basketball world works. Class of 2024 guard Justin Mitchell received plenty of headlines last weekend with Team Scoot. He is a well-built athlete who is effective at darting to his spot with the ball in his hands. He can also use his muscle to fend off defenders and score the ball in traffic. Mitchell’s future shines bright with those attributes in his arsenal of skill.

We have extra appreciation for players that compete on every possession. That is what we see in class of 2024 point guard Tahai ‘Boogie’ Morgan. The Team Scoot product gets into a defensive stance and harasses opponents with his quick hands and feet. We loved his willingness to chase down ball handlers and poke the ball out from behind or smack shots off the glass. His offensive game comes with the same grit and tenacity. He shows determination to make a play happen. It will not always be smooth and pretty with Morgan, but games are not won with the flashy. Games are won with willpower and that is what Morgan has!

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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