The annual Bob Gibbons TOC hit the hardwood once again in Georgia and the annual platform did not disappoint.  Here’s a quick look at a handful of sleepers and stock risers from the 2023 class that made their presence felt earlier this month…

6’7” Stephen Olowoniyi (Alabama Fusion)
It had been close to a year for me since watching Olowoniyi live; after averaging over 10 PPG at the EYBL Indianapolis session last month, he was aggressive as ever at Bob Gibbons. Olowoniyi immediately sticks out with his physical tools. He has long arms and is an impressive overall athlete. He gets off the floor very quickly off of 2 feet and is fluid moving laterally, allowing him to guard inside & out. His athleticism is put to full use as he gives a lot of effort as a rebounder and is great in the dunker spot, showing no fear in challenging anyone at the rim. Although still raw offensively, Olowoniyi did had good moments of touch with his left hand in the paint and showed potential of face-up ability against slower forwards from 10-12 feet. His progress will be worth tracking.

6’2” Kyler Daugustino (Mid Ohio Pumas Gilliland)
Daugustino’s stellar spring continued at Bob Gibbons despite the Pumas being short-handed and having an earlier exit than they would have liked. At Run N’ Slam, I missed some of his big scoring games. That was not the case this time around as he went off for 30 in the Pumas’ win on Saturday afternoon. Daugustino has a strong, sturdy build that is hard for many high school guards to handle. He’s physical going to the lane and is effective scoring in traffic because of that quality as well as his ability to convert on a variety of unorthodox shots from 8 feet & in. Daugustino has shown that he can man both guard spots, possessing good vision & passing feel while also keeping defenses honest with his perimeter shooting. His point outputs are notable, but he also makes an impact defensively; his strength is an asset on that end and he has pesky hands. I expect Daugustino to have a good number of suitors before summer’s end.

5’11” Devaki Garr (Tennessee Tigers)
The only viewing I got of the Tigers was on Friday night, but Garr made sure that it was worth it.  The team came out flat-footed, entering a 12-0 hole early in the 1st half. That turned around in the snap of a finger thanks in large part to the offensive production of Garr. He first got himself going from the outside with a quick release on some deep 3-pointers and that gave him & the rest of the Tigers group a nice boost. Garr lacks height but he has electric speed that makes him a blur in transition and it was on display numerous times in this game; he is bouncy & energetic on the defensive side of the ball, which creates those opportunities in the open court. Once he got in a groove, Garr also used his quickness in the halfcourt to make things happen offensively. He’s hard to keep in front and the combination of all these aspects led the Tigers to an eventual 20-point victory. I hope to get another look at him and this team soon.

6’5” Mason Etter & 6’4” Kyle Walters (Atlanta Allstars)
The Allstars have multiple prospects who are getting well-warranted attention so far this spring, but Etter and Walters have both been a little unsung. With the ascension of Brandon Rechsteiner and the buzz now surrounding him, the Allstars need others to step up in the backcourt and these two did just that at Bob Gibbons. Both of them score in limited dribbles and move well without the ball. Etter asserted himself offensively more than he had when I watched the Allstars previously this spring, looking for his shot often and not thinking twice about it. His mid-range game was particularly effective and he made his usual energizing hustle plays. Walters was reliable from beyond the arc, showed good decision-making, and found transition opportunities. He just knows where to be on the court. Continuing to produce at a level similar to this will go a long way for the Allstars when they have big matchups in July.