OTR & RL Hoops Elite 32 Live Period Notebook
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Marietta, GA – The hot summer days of grassroots basketball is always sizzling in July. The latest wave of rising talent take to the floor during the first Live period in front of college coaches and scouts during the On the Radar Hoops Elite 32 showcase at NextPlay 360.
Here’s a comprehensive look at standout performers who raised their stock – and in some cases, their scholarship totals – during a loaded weekend of competition.
Dominant Forwards making a Statement
Jared Smith | 6’7 | Team Persons (2026)
Long, active, and always engaged, Smith is the type of wing every coach wants. He rebounds with purpose, defends with effort, and alters shots quirk his length. Offensively, he’s showing a developing jumper and plays with a motor that doesn’t stop. His versatility and energy allows the Albany, NY native to impact the game on both ends of the floor consistently. Smith has a solid jumper and a high motor—two traits that make him a plug-and-play asset at the next level. He added Grambling State to the offers he already has on the table, including Auburn, Georgia Tech, Troy, Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State, Alcorn State, Morehouse, Miles College, and Alabama State.
Callen Tollestrup | 6’7 | Salt Lake Rebels (2026)
Tollestrup brings a smooth, high-release jumper from deep that makes defenders pay for leaving him open. A true stretch forward, his ability to shot the three with confidence opens up the floor for teammates. Combine that with his length, and you have a dangerous offensive weapon who fits today’s pace-and-space systems.
Jason Welborn | 6’5 | GA Canes (2026)
Welborn had a signature breakout performance, punctuated by thunderous dunks, strong drives, and textbook shooting mechanics. The Decatur High product landed an offer from Edward Waters after showcasing elite athleticism and two-way impact.
Jaylin Stewart | 6’6 | Gold Elite (2026)
An explosive lefty power forward who played with maximum effort. Stewart’s hustle on the glass and powerful finishes elevated his stock significantly. A true blue-collar prospect with upside.
Reece Reidel | 6’5 | VWBA (2026)
The Kansas native is a skilled lefty dual-forward who scores with or without the ball. His feel for spacing and ability to absorb contact while finishing make him a mismatch nightmare. Reidel carries a 3.9 GPA to complement his versatile game.
Tyler Jones | 6’7 | Georgia Achiever Academy (2026)
A lengthy and skilled wing with natural instincts on both ends. Jones stretches the floor, finishes in transition, and plays with intensity. He is a wiry wing with defensive instincts and offensive versatility. Jones covers ground like a gazelle and plays with a great motor.
Duor Duor | 6’9 | The Lab (DFC) (2026)
With the length and versatility, Duor showcased his ability to alter shots, rebound in traffic, and stretch the floor. He’s developing into a two-way dual forward. The more polishing of his skillset will help generate more interest from college programs.
Interior Enforcers & Hybrid Bigs
Oliver Junker | 6’7 | Elevation Flyers (2026)
A traditional post player with a modern twist. Junker is a bruising presence down low who also stretches the floor with a soft shooting touch. He dominates the paint with power and precision, gobbles up rebounds, and runs the floor like a veteran. Double-double machine with inside-out skill that’s hard to guard.
Wyatt Carpenter | 7’0 | Elevation Flyers (2027)
A towering presence who anchors the defense with shot-blocking and rebounding. Still raw offensively but shows touch and rim-running instincts. High-ceiling big man.
Carter Higdon | 6’8 | Team Persons (2026)
Higdon continues to emerge as a high-level stretch forward with a confident handle, deep range, and toughness in the paint. His stock is trending upward in a major way. Major sleeper in Georgia’s 2026 class.
Hendrix Loughridge | 6’10 | PSB Tampa Elite (2026)
A hybrid big who impacts both ends. Loughridge protects the rim and finishes with a soft touch. His court vision and passing at his size add to his appeal.
Keyden Pittman | 6’9 | Georgia Achiever Academy (2026)
This high-energy, blue-collar post player who lives on the glass and defends the paint with authority. Pittman’s effort and rim-running presence make him a coach’s dream.
Steven Rydzewski | 6’8 | Atlanta Timberwolves (2027)
A prototype modern forward with soft hands, and positional rebounding. Rydzewski has stretch potential and is just scratching the surface of his upside.
Skilled Guards Catching Fire
William Myles | 5’10 | Sewer South (2026)
Don’t let size fool you – Myles is a tough, gritty point guard who thrives under pressure. Known for his crafty scoring ability and pinpoint vision, Myles navigates defenses with poise and delivers needle-threading passes. His late-game heroics, including back-to-back threes to seal a win. show he’s got the clutch gene and a scorer’s mindset. He is fearless and poised beyond his years.
Joseph Haubert | 6’0 | Elevation Flyers (2026)
A composed floor general with a smooth shooting stroke, Haubert thrives in catch-and-shoot situations. He plays with poise beyond his years, rarely rattled under pressure, and makes sound decisions with the ball. A steady hand who understands tempo and spacing, he’s the type of guard that winning teams are built around. Haubert is a system-ready guard with great basketball IQ.
Tucker Fox | 6’0 | Team Speights (2026)
Fox flashed a complete offensive toolkit throughout the weekend. From deep range shots to attacking defenders off the bounce, he proved he can make plays from all over the court. His composure against pressure and ability to create off the dribble make him a valuable combo guard prospect.
Huey Blalock | 5’10 | Atlanta Timberwolves
Back healthy and back to dominating pace, Blalock controlled the tempo, found teammates, and attacked the lane with poise. The Rabun County (GA) High product lived in the lane and played off of two-feet to get a shot off or orchestra the offense.
Toby Lane | 5’9 | Team Speights (2026)
Lane is a cerebral guard who plays under control and dictates tempo. He scores efficiently and understands how to attack defenders inside, using his strength and body control to finish off two feet. His ability to keep the game at his pace makes him a strong candidate to lead at the next level.
Marcus Williams | 5’10 | Judah Nation (2026)
Williams might be the most tenacious on-ball defender on the weekend. A low-center-of-gravity pest with lightning-quick hands and relentless energy, he frustrates opponents from baseline to baseline. But he’s more than a defensive stopper – Williams finishes well int eh paint and brings a contagious toughness to both ends of the court.
Jasen Francillon | 6’6 | Judah Nation (2026)
A do-it-all wing has toolkit full of skills—ball-handling, slashing, leadership, and defensive switchability. A coach’s favorite due to his communication and high-level versatility.
Jayden Crawford | GA Canes (2026)
After posting a 30-point performance and an offer from Southern Utah, Crawford proved he can score with the pace, play with poise, and lead with toughness. He played with consistency needed from a floor general.
Gavin Patterson | 6’3 | Team Judah (2026)
Patterson’s defensive energy and offensive consistency made him a standout. He is an underrated spark plug guard who pressures ball-handlers, scores through contact, and averaged 16 PPG. Dean College extended an offer after a strong showing earlier this summer.
Amari Owens | 6’1 | Kentucky Hoop Dreams (2026)
Dynamic point guard with shake, explosiveness, and a scorer’s mindset. He had a 28-point game, dazzling with creativity and elite body control.
Ian Thomas | MidPro South Premier (2026)
Big-bodied guard who can score and facilitate. The 6’4 hybrid guard was key to MidPro’s 6-0 run, showing he can impact the game in multiple ways.
Chase Dupree | 6’3 | Warner Robins All-Stars (2026)
Arguably the biggest breakout of the weekend. Dupree scored 30+ in three of six games, combining length, poise, and defensive grit. The point total was not only bright spot, the 6’3 hybrid guard ran the offense as the lead guard in several games and defended like a man determined to impose his will. Alcorn State offered Dupree, who owns a 3.9 GPA.
J’mari Greene | Devin Butts Elite (2026)
Greene is a tempo-pushing, tough shot-making guard who plays through contact. His confidence is contagious and his motor never stops. He is instant offense as he sees shots fall through the net. The Putnam County (GA) High product is a must watch if your programs culture is looking for a tough-minded prospect.
Frandy Perez | 6’6 | HoopGrind (2026)
Is one of the more intriguing international prospects, the Dominican-born native brings long arms, elite defensive disruption, and above-the-rim-finishes. He excels in transition, but can knockdown shots comfortably. This is a unique two-way potential roster addition.
Jordan Quince | 6’3 | Florida Pro (2026)
Explosive. Competitive. Skilled. Quince had multiple wow moments – dunking, knocking down threes, and making high-level reads in transition. His performance had many college coaches thumbing through the media guide and circling his name. He is a high-octane 6’3 combo guard.
Donovan Miller | 6’7 | Cascade Kings Black (2026)
Long, fluid, and with a quick-trigger jumper, Miller made life difficult for defenses. His size, at 6’7, and high release made him a tough matchup on the perimeter. This Central Catholic (OR) sniper will catch a programs eye with his skillset.
Jalen Nicholson | 6’7 | Cascade Knights Black (2026)
Stock-rising hybrid forward who blocks shots, stretches the floor, and finishes with authority. Nicholson owns a 4.0 GPA and is attracting serious attention from the Pacific Northwest.
Alex Jones | 6’2 | GA Canes (2026)
Combo guard from Pebblebrook who plays bigger than his 6’2 frame. Jones is aggressive downhill and locked in defensively. Middle Georgia State took notice and offered.
Underclassmen to Monitor
Bodhi Barnett | 6’6 | Elevation Flyers (2027)
Massive growth spurt added fuel to Barnett’s already promising game. The smooth-shooting lefty guard is deadly from deep and finishes inside. Long term high upside with time and strength.
Nantti Ruuhilahti | 6’7 | GA Stunners (2027)
Finnish-born wing with a strong motor and defensive versatility. He plays through contact and defends across the front court, and has generated early interest from college programs.
Bobby Harpring | 5’11 | Hoop Atlanta Harpring (2028)
The Marist (GA) lead guard showed feel beyond his years. He plays with purpose, makes timely reads, and rebounds his position aggressively.
Cory McPherson | 5’11 | Sunshine Elite (2027)
An explosive scoring point guard who creates offense with vision and burst. McPherson’s energy and speed make him one to track. He was electric on both ends of the floor and always made the right read.
Eston McDow | 6’3 | Hoop Atlanta Harping
The ultimate glue guy. Rebounding, defending, and knocking down mid-range shots – all with grit and consistency.
Top Sharpshooters of the Weekend
• Caiden Braketa | 6’3 | B&B Academy Black (2026) – The 6’3 sniper was dialed in from deep. With a fluid handle and ability to play on the ball, Braketa showed he’s more than just a shooter. He forced defenses to stretch well beyond their comfort zone, while also getting into the lane for easy baskets.
• Dylan Flach | 6’4 | PSB Tampa Elite (2026) – The Jesuit sniper hit threes with surgical precision. Deadeye from the outside with range and rhythm.
• Max Simmons | 6’1 | Sunshine Elite (2026) – Dropped six threes in one game. A true specialist from Orlando with unshakable confidence.
• Maurice Eddie | 5’11 | San Antonio FOA (2026) – Scored 33 in one game, averaging 23 PPG for the weekend. A complete offensive weapon with a jumper to fear.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform. Alfonso can be reached at 678-209-9187; email: baselinetosideline@gmail.com; X: bts_report