Sweet Sixteen Session 1 – Hybrid Eye-Catchers

ATLANTA, GA – With a large part of our staff hovering around some high-quality action at Next Play 360, for OTR’s massive Sweet Sixteen Session 1 I took in some action from the outer gyms, and as is my want uncovered plenty of guys and teams that can play.

Saw a bunch of guys who are hybrid types, who can score in roles as forwards or guards with a construct, and that always catches my eye. Some of who I saw included:

By: Keith Agran

Harry Kitey | G/F | 2024 | Dunwoody United (pictured at top)

My first extended look at The Weber School’s Kitey and it matched the buzz surrounding him, love the size to be a face-up monster with a sweet stroke from ranges up to 22 feet or more and a frame he uses slyly and skillfully as a driver and offensive rebounding machine, 6-5 and can handle the ball for you as well as being a willing and superb passer he has all the tools to augment his future goals of med school with a rewarding college basketball career as well, recent visits to Princeton and Johns Hopkins highlight the high academic.

Cam Keith | G/F | 2023 | Rome Elite

The unsigned Rome HS guard has good size for the guard portion of the hybrid role at 6-3 and shoots it at a high clip going on some 3-pt shooting runs over his career that are college-level for sure, always been the kind of defensive contributor who does the roster requires of him whether with Mike Atwater’s Rome Elite squad or the Wolves, can guard 4’s with a grotty style and good athleticism and technique to take to the glass.

Lucas Lima | G/F | 2024 | Game Speed Elite Orange

Always a fan of what Game Speed from FL brings to OTR events as a deep roster is always sprinkled with a fun mix of athletes and hybrid producers, Lima calls Montverde Academy home and it was easy to see why as he cruised the floor finishing at the rim with a flourish at 6-6 and showing off the perimeter game of a D1 level big shooting guard as well, disciplined and patient it was a college-ready package that should get more concerted looks with his exposure to more coaches during these live periods.

Krystian Jankiewicz | G/F | 2023 | International Elite

Great late Sunday find with International Elite’s (which consists of the Talluah Falls School from North GA varsity) fun squad and the 6-4 hybrid guard/small forward type in Jankiewicz, like so many Euro imports he mixes deep shooting prowess with pinpoint and timely passing, a better athlete than many you see arrive from the European continent as he has good muscle on his frame and is a fluid mover, at 6-4 can easily play a 2 or 3 role for someone a the next level and step right into with the IQ and developed skillset.

Zander Frazier | G/F | 2024 | Team Dr1ven

Familiar with Team Dr1ven and they always bring a quality product into OTR from AL, Frazier was a fun find on a Sunday first with eh excellent size around 6-5 to go with a perfect hybrid style game, absolutely can station at the arc and launch for you while also having a nice burst off the dribble, but he defended physically inside and used both good lift and smart positioning as a forward to impact the game closer to the basket, has the look of a potential steal out of Bama.

Leo Etah | G/F | 2024 | NGU

We scouts on the grind have known about Etah for a while and he makes an impression athletically each time you see him, while there’s still work to do to hone the fine edges of what could develop into a really enticing package he still catches eyeballs with how “big” he plays for a guy who’s around 6-4, it’s the explosive movement and lift that immediately allows him to match up with and get past bigger players as he plays a hybrid-4 for NGU, the face-up as a wing is where the future development will be key as a constant shot from 18+ is critical to match his obvious natural abilities.

 

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.