OTR Thanksgiving Showcase Preview – November 21, 2022

LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia, – On the Radar Hoops will host the Thanksgiving Showcase this Wednesday at Central Gwinnett High School. Ten schools from around the Atlanta Metro area will square off in preparation for upcoming season. Here is a preview of the players to watch this week.

2pm Paideia vs. Cedar Grove

Paideia has one of the more intriguing seniors in the state in Kenan Orlovic. He is a 6-foot-8 wing forward who can do a variety of things on the court. He is off to a quick start this season as he scored 29 points and hauled in 18 rebounds in his team’s opener. Also look for freshman guard CJ Harper to make an impact this season. He is player who can provide assistance with ball handling or scoring from the wing.

Cedar Grove is off to a strong start this season. Senior guard Jaylen Adside looks to pace his squad with scoring and playmaking. While senior forward Darius Reynolds is a potential double-double threat nightly for Saints. Also look for freshman Manny Greene to make an impact this season. He is tabbed as one of the top prospects in his class in the state of Georgia.

3:30pm Osborne vs. Fayette County

The Osborne Cardinals are being tabbed by many around the state as one of the contenders in Class 7A. They are led by class of 2025 guard Akai Fleming, who is a top 100 player nationally. He has multiple Power 5 Conference offers. Fleming is complemented by a trio of seniors on the roster. Guard Kevin Hicks is a back court threat who impacts the game on either end of the floor. While 6-6 Keshawn McPherson is a high energy wing who can turn defense into offense in a hurry. Justin McCarter is expected to be the engine for the Cardinals this season. The 6-5 guard brings a wealth of versatility and is highly productive in several areas.

Class of 2023 guard RJ Kennedy became one of our staff’s favorite prospects this summer on the circuit. He is a natural scorer and brings max effort each time he laces them up. He is off to a scorching start this season after scoring 30 points in a match-up with McIntosh. Sophomore guard Sean Van Dorn made an impression this at our fall camp. He is a 6-5 prospect who is an emerging two-way prospect. Christian McAllister is another sophomore guard who is making waves for Fayette County. This group is primed to make a run in the post season if everything gels together.

5:00pm Woodward Academy vs. South Gwinnett

Woodward Academy has a rising star in sophomore guard Deke Cooper Jr. The 6-6 guard is already on the radar of many college programs in the region. He recently scored 27 in a big win over Paideia. Zac Foster is another sophomore guard who is making his imprint early for Woodward. Junior guard Brandon Peters is having a good start to the season as well with multiple double digit scoring games.

There is a lot of optimism around the South Gwinnett program this season. Coming off a 19-win season, the Comets return eight seniors to the roster. Wing Ansar Osman figures to be a big part of the equation for coach Qaree Howard. The lanky 6-6 shooter can stretch the floor and make an impact on the defensive end. Point guard Kendall Walker will provide the ball handling and the fire needed for success this season. He gave our staff a glimpse of what is in store at the Southern Hoops Report Fall Jamboree. Class of 2024 guard Justin Redmond is a player with a terrific reputation among OTR evaluators. He has a knack for scoring the ball from the perimeter or off the dribble in the paint.

6:30pm Central Gwinnett vs. Walnut Grove

Central Gwinnett appears to have a budding star in Tim Smith. He is a junior guard that scored 18 points in the OTR Tip-Off Classic last Saturday. He works well within coach Spivey’s offensive system and has good court awareness.

Walnut Grove had a solid showing at the Tip-Off Classic last Saturday. Deston Christian came into his own scoring 25 points and showed multiple dimensions to his game. Coach Witherspoon lost a big part of his lineup with an injury to Tyler Jewell during that game. We will see which player is ready to step up in that absence.

8:00pm Grayson vs. Tri-Cities

Point guard CJ Hyland took over the game for the Rams in Saturday’s match-up versus Pebblebrook with a team high 27 points. It was not quite enough, as foul trouble to Gicarri Harris really hurt the Rams ability to slow down Jaiun Simon. Look for the interior combo of Chad Moodie and Amir Taylor to be a key factor in this game versus Tri-Cities, however. If there is an advantage that the Rams may have, it could be along the frontline.

Tri-Cities received a huge game from senior point guard Kory Mincy on Saturday evening at the OTR Tip-Off Classic. Mincy has rock solid fundamentals and the experience needed to steer the team. Junior guard Malique Johnson will figure to be an important piece of this game in trying to match the production of the Grayson backcourt.

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.