OTR The Opening – Final Look – March 23, 2022

CUMMING, Georgia, – This is the fourth and final recap from last weekend’s first event of the spring, The Opening. It takes multiple recaps to cover all the names we noted from the tournament. Here is another list of names that made my notebook on Saturday and Sunday.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Combo guard Armar Gordon made it a habit of getting buckets on Sunday afternoon. He hit tough pull-up jumpers off step back moves while also proving he can finish at the cup through contact. The Georgia Rebels utilize his talents effectively.

There was plenty of good point guard play at The Opening. Southern Stars lead guard, Naz Griffin, caught our attention with his vision and craftiness. He may be smaller, but he is certainly strong. He changes pace well with the ball in his hands and can hang in the air to make plays in traffic.

PSB Elite has a couple of kids that should be noted as players ready to break out. Guard Chase Hill is one of those kids. He is a tough-minded player who seems to get it done on both ends of the court. He also displayed a good amount of offensive skill to complement his toughness.

Class of 2023 wing-forward Kelvin Hunter of team AJ Bouye impressed us with his versatility. The 6-7 prospect scooped up rebounds while also handling the ball on the perimeter. He showed some vision as a passer too, which lends to his overall versatility. He earned All-Region honors this year and is poised to make some noise on the spring circuit.

Brandon Kinkaid is a kid who is relentless and productive. He is a well-built forward who can prowl along the front line or play in the high post. In the Smyrna Stars win over Team Dickerson, he scored 17 points while hauling down double-digit rebounds. The unsigned senior should garner looks from college coaches looking to add productivity to their roster.

We liked what we saw from AE5 point guard Kory Mincey in their match-up versus the Georgia Stars. He plays the game with confidence and is willing to put it on the line for his teammates. His playmaking should be a skill that translates to the collegiate level.

Atlanta Astros wing Bryce Pittman is a fun prospect to watch. The lefty is one of those position- less players who can be productive in several ways. He can shoot the 3 or get into the lane and make plays in between defenders. His size also allows him to defend and rebound along the front line.

Justin Redmon of Promise Elite had a great showing last weekend. He is a point guard that sets the table for his teammates. The lefty handles effectively in traffic and can hit the spot-up 3-pointer. We expect Redmon to be one of the top point guards in Gwinnett County next year.

Zak Thomas is a high energy point guard with polished fundamentals. He uses either hand comfortably to pass or to slash to the bucket. His play is often the glue that keeps the Atlanta Timberwolves moving in the right direction.

Deshaun Vassar of Atlanta Select is player who should be mentioned after his performances last weekend. He is the type of kid that gets the job done, whatever that may mean at that moment for his team. He can set up teammates for open shots or get into the lane for his own shot.

Hawks elite wing Deondrian Washington had a solid showing on Saturday morning. He showed range to the arc while presenting solid athleticism. Standing at 6-6, he has several tools to work with on the hardwood.

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.