Standout Guards from the OTR Carolina Mania – April 3, 2023
On The Radar hit the road for Spartanburg this weekend, the first Carolina event on the calendar. Top programs flocked from all over the southeast and we were able to get a look at some of Carolina’s top prospects as well as a few Georgia guys that made the most of their trip. Here are a few guards that stood out to me throughout the weekend.
By: Cam Rickers
2024 G Delani Hammonds – Team Synergy
When you talk about point guards that can really run the show, few can do so like Delani Hammonds. Hammonds utilizes change of speed as a ball-handler and uses it well to attack opposing defenses. He does a great job of keeping his eyes up on the drive, able to dish it to an open teammate or score it himself. Defensively, he’s a pesky on-ball defender and forced several turnovers throughout the weekend. All in all, Hammonds was one of the best true point guards I saw this weekend.
2023 G Jakel Powell – Team Push
Jakel Powell was one of the most impressive prospects across the board at Carolina Mania. A 6’6 guard, Powell can fill up the scoresheet from all three levels and is capable of playing the 1, 2 or the 3. He’s long and athletic which he uses to his advantage when finishing at the rim. His recruitment got hot last summer with a handful of D1s extending offers but he’s back this summer and could be a big JUCO pickup if that’s where he’s headed.
2025 G Jayden Bone – EYA Sports
Jayden Bone led the charge for EYA Sports this weekend, one of several 2025 players that stood out while playing up in the 17u division. Against Upward Stars Pee Dee, Bone poured in a game-high 27 points including some clutch buckets at the end to put the game out of reach. Bone finds his points in a variety of ways but his three-ball was finding the bottom of the net all weekend. If he strings together a few more weekends like this one, Bone could really up his stock this spring.
2025 G Sean Dunn – Upward Stars Carolinas
Not too often do you see a guard below 6 feet get up and dunk the ball but that’s exactly how Sean Dunn caught my eye. Upon watching Dunn more throughout the weekend, there’s much to like beyond his sneaky athleticism. Dunn plays with a level of coolness and composure that you love to see from a point guard. He’s a great shooter as well, able to knock down open looks or hit mid-range jumpers off the bounce. Sean Dunn is a 2025 to keep an eye on in North Carolina.
2024 G Caden Caskey – Ace SD Elite
Caden Caskey put up some eye-popping numbers this weekend for Ace SD Elite including a 30-point explosion against the HYB Raptors. Caskey is a crafty scorer that utilizes a variety of attack moves and plays well of off two feet, an undervalued trait for high school players. He had a few acrobatic finishes at the rim and got to the free throw line often where he made teams pay. His ability to score the ball is clear and once he adds an element of playmaking to his game, this could a college guard prospect we’re looking at.
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
