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OTR The Opening Underclassmen Standouts – March 24, 2023

OTR The Opening Underclassmen Standouts - March 24, 2023
March 24, 2023

KENNESAW, 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 underclassman that we evaluated on Saturday and Sunday at Woodstock High School and Kennesaw Rec Center.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Grant Robich is a talented class of 2027 point guard who plays on the Wood Elite 2026 squad. He is an energetic, skilled player who oozes passion for the game. He is a kid that is mastering the fundamentals while also able to add his own flair on the court. While Robich might appear to be a bit small at the moment, we expect a growth spurt from the eighth grader soon by looking at his shoe size. Robich is on our radar as an up-and-coming prospect in the greater North Metro Atlanta area.

In terms of the complete package of skills and athleticism, Korrie Corbett of the Georgia Stars 15U EYBL squad might check the most boxes of any 2026 prospect we evaluated last weekend. He is a well-built wing who can use his strength and size to exert his will in the lane. He scores in traffic, dunks in transition, and can hit face-up jumpers from distance. Corbett is a South Carolina native and, on a trajectory, to be one of the most tracked prospects in the region in his class.

AYSA Panthers forward Gage Mayfield is a player to highlight in the notebook because of his size, aggressiveness, and agility. Standing 6-foot-6 tall, the class of 2026 prospect can clean the glass in traffic and provide shot blocking on the defensive end. His quickness to lose balls is what separates him from other big men who may be too heavy footed to change directions quickly. Mayfield, on the other hand, shows that he has upside to defend the paint and be an effective perimeter defender in switching or trapping situations.

One of the top individual performances of the tournament was turned in by Zade Elshihabi of Tier2Elite on Sunday afternoon. The left-handed freshman connected on seven 3-pointers on his way to a 23-point outing in a win. Elshihabi plays the game with confidence and a high amount of energy. He works his way around the perimeter to find open shots. As he matures physically in future years, he should become one of the top shooters in the state in the 2026 class.

The player that turned the most heads on Sunday afternoon was Tarris Bouie with Team Eat. The North Carolina native drips with basketball talent. He has a polished skill set while seeing the game like an upperclassman. He is 6-5 with a lanky frame that reminds us of previous greats that have emerged from the Tar Heel State. Let us keep tracking to Bouie to see if he can reach the levels that are within his grasp.

Left-handed point guard Zaire Grace made an impression at The Opening with GAA. He is a slasher that brings an attacking mindset to the court. The Dutchtown native might have a slight build and on the smaller side at this moment, but we believe that a growth spurt is in the cards for the freshman. As he matures physically, his skills will be enhanced and his impact will undoubtedly grow. As it is right now, Grace is a player to watch as a prospect of the future.

Class of 2026 guard Jaden Perkins had a terrific Sunday afternoon. He scored 20-plus points including at least six 3-pointers in a win with SGS Elite. I walked up late to his game on court one, but it became apparent that Perkins was the dominant player on the court. His aggressive ball handling and confident shooting stroke earned him a spot in my notes.

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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