OTR x SH Report Shootout – A Few Guys to Track
MARIETTA, GA – Combining their powers, OTR and the SH Report, headed by Shun Williams and Kris Watkins respectively, went head to head with the GBCA SE Regional Live event at LakePoint and hosted over 40 schools at Next Play 360 last Saturday.
From the day, with coaches from a variety of levels in the bldg, here are a few names worth tracking on your radars.
By: Keith Agran
AJ Horton | G | 2024 | South Cobb
Arrives at SC from Jonesboro and immediately gives them some critical versatility in the backcourt, can play either guard spot and be effective in the drive game and as a keen passer, has a nice jump shot out to the arc and is strong and smart as a stat stuffer at both ends, has a chance to gain some recruiting traction away from a Jonesboro program where he was something of a secondary piece within what is another talented returning core there.
Taj Saragba | F | 2027 | Woodstock
Surely this month as well as into the fall we’re sure to see more 2027s who figure to play prominent roles for their teams, first it was Brock Bonner at NCCS popping the last 2 weeks and then we got a taste of the Wolverines’ Saragba and his clear early impact for his squad, already imposing with good strength he can muscle on the interior and attack the glass like an upperclassman, more so than the candy we saw Saturday is the fascinating upside of what he can become thus laminating him onto mine and other radars for the future.
Jabarri Williams | G | 2025 | Valdosta
I like this Valdosta team even though they didn’t have their best stuff vs a rapidly emerging Central Gwinnett squad, Williams has steadily emerged himself as a name to know the last 2 years both coming up to the ATL-Metro in travel ball settings as well as shining in Middle-GA camps and showcases, with the likes of 2024 Cam Perkins from Warner Robins and 2026 Malik Gillespie from Houston County could easily make a strong case for best PG south of Atlanta, terrific natural instincts as a floor leader and can score it from any level.
Brandon Battle | G | 2026 | North Clayton
A 40-pt morning game caught the eye of just about every OTR scout in the building and when I saw him later in the day he was smooth and showed off the deep stroke that was abuzz in the building, one of the joys of an event like this one is discovering guys like Battle from programs that don’t always get much coverage and both he and North Clayton represented really well.
Max Skidmore | G | 2024 | Heritage School (Newnan)
Among the better pure college prospects regardless of level was easily Skidmore, has been on the come for 2 years now playing well for both Heritage as well as being a standout for some good Atlanta T-Wolves teams in the summer, has seriously put the work in in the weight room and it’s smart as he plays a downhill game that places him into the full blunt force of bodies on his way, has all the stuff to be a really good college player who contributes early.
Andrew Taylor III | G | 2026 | Therrell
Runs the show like a boss for another tough and gritty Therrell team as that’s what you can expect from that program yearly, with still 2 years to go his recruitablity to be fair remains something of a mystery at his size but you can’t argue the tangibles in his game, can and will be a good HS-level point guard the way he sees and understands the nuances of the game and that may very well be enough.
Cade Lomas | G | 2025 | Sequoyah
Few if any have used the opening weeks of June better to build buzz than Lomas through both word of mouth among the scouting community and sly use of social media, he’s backed up the self-publicity with some eye-opening performances playing in a more wide-open style employed by new Chiefs coach Scott Bracco, it’s a fun bunch from Hickory Flat and Lomas has drawn comparisons to a “Brandon Rechsteiner lite” type the way he can push pace and use a slick handle to create chances, surely an emerging name.
Ryan Cain | G | 2025 | Lovett
For the first time in 3 years we’ll see a Lions team without dynamic scoring machine Christian Anderson as he’s off to Oak Hill Academy, they say goodbye to two key 2023s as well in Ryan Walters and Cam Foster-Martez so Cain sets up as a key among a group of names set to make a jump, he’s gotten bigger and stronger and after showing some really interesting offensive variety dating back to last spring he has the full-court game to emerge as a name to know.
Keith Agran has lived in Georgia since 2011 and joined OTR as a National Evaluator in 2021. He previously scouted for Prep Hoops dating back to 2019, and also spent 3 years as a sports writer at two newspapers in New Jersey. After a championship-coaching background on the HS-level also in NJ, he accepted the Girl’s Basketball Head Coaching position in May 2022 at Mt Bethel Christian Academy and now balances scouting and coaching still with a keen eye on talent around the region. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.
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