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OTR The Opening – Day 1 Upperclassmen Standouts – March 20, 2023

OTR The Opening - Day 1 Upperclassmen Standouts - March 20, 2023
March 21, 2023

WOODSTOCK, Georgia, – On the Radar Hoops hosted The Opening at five different facilities in the Cobb-Cherokee County area last weekend. Travel teams from several different states made the commitment to compete and be seen at this event. Here is a recap of notable upperclassman that we evaluated on Saturday at Woodstock High School.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Fresh off a state championship with Kings Ridge Christian, senior Micah Hoover was back in the gym making sure everyone remembers his name. He drew praise from the entire OTR media crew while suiting up with H.Y.P.E. Hawks. The 6-foot-7 forward rattled the rims with fastbreak dunks while also cleaning the glass as an efficient rebounder. A college program that is looking for instant production from a high energy performer should consider Hoover in the late signing period.

Junior Cedric Haynes is poised for a breakout spring with Team Dickerson Green. He is a 6’4 guard with skills and athletic tools. We had a chance to see his talent on display in one of the first games on Saturday morning. He created shots off the dribble while also dishing to teammates when the double team rotated towards him. Most impressively was a huge block in transition in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, which brought everyone out of their seats.

Charge Academy is a team filled with talented guards. They are team that can push the tempo and force opponents into errors with their defense. Junior combo guard Byron Martin led that effort on Saturday morning with an 18-point outing. He caught our eye with his consistent 3-pointer jumper. Add in his athleticism to punch dunks in transition and the 5-11 guard appears to be a prospect that coaches will want to keep tabs on heading into the spring evaluation period.

Cam Perkins is not a new name at OTR events. He has been as a steady performer with the Warner Robins All-Stars ever since he was a rising freshman. Now a junior, Perkins appears to have leveled his game up yet again. He is playing the game with poise and confidence. He does not have to play fast to get things done. Instead, the point guard plays with pace and picks his spots as when to attack or get his teammates involved. These are the qualities we look for when evaluating quality lead guards for the next level.

Class of 2024 O’Brien Watkins with Team Forrest is a stock riser coming out of this event. The 6-1 point guard is adept at setting his teammates with the pass. He does a great job at getting into the lane and finding the open shooter on the perimeter or giving a timely bounce pass to a cutter to the rim. We expect to see him elevate his teammates into the evaluation weekends.

Has there been a productive prospect than Gicarri Harris over the last 12 months? The 6-3 guard continues to put up consistent numbers with each outing whether it is with the Grayson Rams or like he did last weekend with the Atlanta Celtics. Harris does not come with a lot of flash and extra dazzle. He is a blue-collar guard with athleticism and shot making ability. He is able to blend into the fabric of every team he plays with very well. It is worth believing that he should be a fit on a competitive collegiate roster as well.

One of the biggest eye openers of the weekend was guard Chase Tyler with Wood Elite. He is a kid that we have noted before for his potential and athleticism. This weekend, however, we are noting him for his production. He proved that he can be a go-to lead player for a high level travel team. The 6-3 combo guard has a silky-smooth jumper from the arc and can get out quick off the dribble as well. He has some room to develop on the core strength and being able to dish out the bump on the drive. Nevertheless, Tyler is a prospect full of promise and should be a key target for some college coach radar’s this spring.

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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