#OTRHoops Report – 5 Star Longhorn Classic – January 30, 2023
ALPHARETTA, Georgia, – Milton High School hosted the 5-Star Longhorn Classic last Saturday. The six-game slate provided teams with a late season test before heading into region tournament play. It also featured out of state teams from South Carolina and Florida, which gave coaches the opportunity to gameplan against unfamiliar opponents. Here is an installment of standouts from the action last weekend.
By: Jonathan Hemingway
Cedric Taylor – Drew Charter Academy – 2023
Taylor heated things up quickly with 18 first half points in the event’s opening game. Taylor is one of the most intriguing available prospects in the state of Georgia given his size and skill set. The 6-foot-6 wing can create plays off the dribble and connect on long range jumpers. He will need to add some strength to his lanky frame, but that is an issue that a solid strength and conditioning program at the next level can fix quickly.
Micah Hoover – King’s Ridge – 2023
King’s Ridge faced off against Goose Creek in the second game of the day and took control of the game in the first half. The play of 6-7 forward Micah Hoover was large reason behind this. He scored eight of his game high 20 points in the first quarter. The high-energy, blue-collar senior cleans up the weakside glass while also being a threat to run and score in transition. He is a perfect complement to the skilled passers and shooters that the Tigers have along the perimeter.
Avantae Parker – Gray Academy – 2023
Parker showed us all why the Eagles at Georgia Southern are elated to have inked a commitment from him this fall. He is an athletic 6-8 forward who works efficiently from the high post and is a threat to finish tip-dunks and alley-oops on the block. The lefty scored 16 points in a win over Sandy Creek. Parker’s blend of strength and agility are hard to find. We predict that he is headed for many double-double nights in Statesboro.
Amir Taylor – Grayson High School – 2025
Taylor continues to provide steady contributions for the Rams on a game-in/game-out basis. Doing what he does as a sophomore is also notable given that he often matches up against upperclassmen. Things were no different in Grayson’s win over Osborne as Taylor overpowered the front line en-route to an 18-point effort. He scored 11 of those in the third quarter, which proved to be the punch needed to push the Rams to a 15-5 record.
Trey Maxwell – North Mecklenburg – 2024
Maxwell caught fire in the second half of their match-up versus the host school, Milton. He scored 20 of his game high 22 points after halftime. His third quarter effort (13 points) proved to be the momentum shifter in this one. The 6-3 combo guard is a confident long-range shooter and can turn the tide of the game when he finds his rhythm.
Jacob Tillman – Milton High School – 2024
Despite the loss, coach Allen Whitehart must be encouraged by the play of his junior point guard. Tillman is a hard nosed player who is willing to mix it with effort on either end of the court. Yet on this night, it was Tillman’s nose for scoring the ball that kept the Eagles close into the game’s final moments. He scored a team high 19 points and created many of those points off the dribble within the flow of the team’s offense. There is reason to believe that this will not be the last that we hear from Tillman.
Moses Hipps – McEachern High School – 2024
Hipps had a fantastic night scoring a game high 21 points in a win over Calvary Christian. The junior combo guard is a fantastic athlete with a college ready frame. Yet it was his shooting accuracy that got him on the board early for the Indians. He scored 11 points in the game’s opening quarter, which included three from 3-point range. He finished with five 3-pointers for the evening. Hipps is one of our stock-risers coming out of the event.
Ace Bailey – McEachern High School – 2024
Bailey is currently a consensus top 20 player nationally. If he can stay healthy the rest of this calendar year, we project Bailey to move into the conversation of the ten best players nationally. He is a 6-9 forward who moves like a wing and has instincts like a point guard. His physical attributes are well documented to date. But what should be talked about more is Bailey’s vision as a passer and ability to anticipate the next play from anywhere on the court. Bailey, who recently gave his verbal commitment to Rutgers, is on a trajectory to become a player who will be talked about for years after he graduates.
Isaiah Evans – North Mecklenburg High School – 2024
Evans, like Bailey, is also a consensus top 20 player in the class of 2024. He is a 6-7 wing that can create plays off the dribble. His frame and game fit the mold of what many scouts hold as an ideal for a potential pro player. He can defend multiple positions and will use his body and footwork to create shots in traffic. Evans is far from reaching his ceiling as well. His frame could stand to add some good weight and thereby strength to help him finish plays consistently through double teams.
Micah Smith – Sandy Creek High School -2024
Smith put forth a workman-like 19-point effort in a match-up versus Gray Collegiate. The lanky 6-8 wing-forward is not afraid to get on the glass and battle for rebounds and second chance opportunities. Smith can push the tempo in the open court as a handler giving him some of the best versatility that we have seen this year. He also connected a 3-point jumper in this game proving that he is a true inside-out threat to score. We like Smith’s game not only for his physical attributes, but also for his mentality of doing what it takes to win each possession.
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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