#OTRSweet16 Session 1 – Top16U (Kell) Pt 2

MARIETTA, GA – Back to Marietta I went for Day 3 of OTR’s Sweet 16 Session 1, and the day turned up some really good-l0oking 16U talent at Kell HS, as these juniors-to be get their games in order for bigger live periods still to come.

Part 2 of 2:

By Keith Agran

Khalid Racine | SG | AJ Bouye Elite | 2024

The Douglas County guard was a silky lefty with some inside-out game that was eye-catching, showed range out to the arc and had good size for that mix of wing play and interior work at around 6-4, that interior work was both on the glass and playing some with his back to the basket.

Chasen Allen | CG | AJ Bouye Elite| 2024

Physical and feisty New Manchester product was noticeable for how hard he plays which is typical of the Jaguar guys, was involved a lot at both ends as a scorer and facilitator as well as a constant presence defensively on the ball and off, poised for a productive junior season with NMHS.

Luke Douglas | SG | Jupiter Jaguars | 2024

After the 17u Jaguars played so well down in Daytona with OTR a few weeks back it was the 16s that really shined at Kell, Douglas was one of the better pure athletes of the day as he glided past folks but also had the typical feisty physicality you get with the Jupiter program, multi-level guy but did the lion’s share of his damage from 15ft and in with a soft touch and effective finishing around the basket.

Kenny Greenling | C | Jupiter Jaguars | 2024

Still a bit of a work in progress but there were some really intriguing moments on the catch in close, pretty good feet and hands that should continue to develop, at 6-7 and wide he was a mismatch in the division for most and was solid on the glass and effecting shots as well, upside to watch as the shooting range expands.

Josh Bowman | SF | Alabama Basketball Academy | 2024 (pictured above)

Perhaps one of the weekend’s most skilled and complete looking forwards was Bowman, at around 6-6 he was so good using the bounce with craftiness and a good burst, in the open floor he got by people easily and was really tough finishing on the ABA fast break which they utilized often, this is a name to get to know out of Bama.

JD Gossett | PG | Alabama Basketball Academy | 2024

Like Bowman was impressive as an all-around threat, ran the show like a boss with a ton of composure and court vision like few others I saw all weekend, he picked apart the defense with precision passing and when he wasn’t bombing from deep range was quick to the gaps and making the defense pay near the basket, good-looking college PG prospect.

Matthew Hinton | PF | Georgia Achiever Academy | 2024

Didn’t have perhaps his best production game when I saw him but the physical gifts documented when I saw them work out last month and the way he moves out there at a stout 6-7 is noteworthy, the Dutchtown forward has work to do but again he can open eyes in spurts on physical talent alone with range to 15 feet and serous athletic skill closet in than that, has to be monitored as a prospect on the rise.

Damerius Putmon | PF | Atlanta Nets | 2024

In a head to head with Hinton the 6-7 Putmon was terrific and had the day’s best-looking performance from end to end, erasing shots and scoring it from the elbow and inward he was at times unstoppable and showed off great improvement in his offensive package since I saw him last summer, absolute must-see stuff at Lithia Springs next fall.

Camron Hallingquest | SG | Upward Stars CSRA | 2024

Had the full gamut going against Showtime Elite LA with a face-up game that was tough to deal with downhill and lots of activity from the guard spot around the basket, he was powerful and played with great effort at both ends as he guarded bigs and smalls and was plenty athletic enough to do it, another guy who stood out from the solid group of South Carolina Upward Stars teams at Session 1.

Hezekiah Dantzler | SG | Showtime Elite LA | 2024

The Louisiana-based Dantzler had some fun possessions going against Hallingquest of Upward Stars as he was a bit more of a sleek-mover and slashing type to Hallingquest’s more physical brand, but the lefty got the better of most who guarded him as he was so tough cutting through gaps and being aggressive pushing the ball at the rim, one of the day’s best all-around defenders as well.

Bradley Pearson | PG | Auburn Raptors | 2024

Not the biggest guy out there but that did little to deter him from playing to his strengths which were bombing 3’s and then drawing defenders out for the drive-by, when he got closer in he was a tremendous passer as a lead guard and really showed a ton of understanding on how to lead a club, like all Raptors teams he was tough and resilient at both ends.

Jamarie Brown | PG | Upward Stars Pee Dee | 2024

Tremendous natural gifts as a lead guard and it showed during several possessions where he was the best player on the floor, upping the energy level will help him stand out even more as when he was engaged off the dribble or pushing pace in the open floor the skillset was evident, there’s shooting and defense again when the engagement is high and this is a player out of South Carolina that will need checking in on.

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 has both a championship-coaching background on the HS-level and daily newspaper writing experience, both from New Jersey. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.