OTR’s The Florida Opening: 2024 Standouts – March 28, 2023

OTR’s The Florida Opening took place in Daytona Beach this weekend, bring together some of the top sponsored and independent programs in the sunshine state for an awesome slate of basketball. Here are some 2024 prospects that made an impression this weekend.

By: Cam Rickers (@CamRickersHoops)

2024 F/C Sammie Yeanay – Nightrydas (The Rock)

Sammie Yeanay and his Nightrydas squad came to Daytona and put on an absolute show this weekend. Yeanay was especially impressive, showcasing a unique combination of physical tools, skills, and IQ. He’s got strong hands, able to pull down rebounds in traffic and finish strong at the rim. Yeanay makes smart decisions with the ball too and has a good feel for when to score versus when to kick it out. After my first good look at Yeanay in person, its no surprise that Houston, Alabama, and Florida all want in.

2024 G Tyson Wilson – Athletes of Influence (Treasure Coast)

Rarely do you get to see such a shifty ball-handler like Tyson Wilson, a 6’1 guard with an immense bag of tricks. He was able to get wherever he wanted off the bounce, whether that was all the way to the whole or to create space to let his jumper fly. Wilson also showed flashes of freaky athleticism, contesting shots at the rim or going up high to finish. There are parts of his game that may need cleaning up but Tyson Wilson has all the tools to be a wildly effective point guard.

2024 G Noah Cutler – SWFL Hoops (Gateway Charter)

Noah Cutler may be one of the smaller guards you’ll find in the 17u division but he understands how to be impactful at that size. Cutler is lightning quick with his dribble and can change directions in the blink of an eye. He showcased some really impressive court vision this weekend, always keeping his eyes up to scan the floor for open teammates. With Cutler running the show, SWFL Hoops could make some real noise this spring with OTR.

2024 F Brendan Mahoney – Rainey Premier (Boca Raton)

Brendan Mahoney was a definite eye-catcher this weekend with Rainey Premier. Mahoney showed off a variety of skills seldom found in a 6’7 forward and made his impact felt on both ends of the floor. He’s a long athlete that’s extremely mobile, contests shots well, and plays above the rim. The part of Mahoney’s game that impressed me the most however – his passing. He’s got great vision from the interior, frequently dishing it to a cutting big or a perimeter shooter when defenses collapse. His recruitment will be interesting to follow through the spring and summer.

2024 G Bryan Hill – 904 Elite (First Coast)

Hill was the offensive catalyst for 904 Elite this weekend, hitting timely three-pointers and finishing at the rim as well. There’s some finesse to Hill’s game that easy to like and you can see it a bit in his crafty finishes. Hill’s got a sweet stroke from behind the arc and made the most of his opportunities at the line where he found himself often. He’ll need to add some muscle to his frame in order to compete at the next level but I was intrigued by what I saw this weekend.

Cam Rickers has lived in Georgia his whole life and joined OTR as scout/evaluator this spring. He spent the year prior scouting for PrepHoops, working hard to make a name for himself within the grassroots scene. In addition to his work for OTR and PrepHoops, he is also the Recruiting & Scouting Director for Wood Elite. You can reach him at camrickers12@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @CamRickersHoops