The Opening by OnTheRadar Hoops has become a great annual tournament to get things started on the travel scene in the Atlanta area. This year’s edition came in the Woodstock area last weekend as a strong collection of teams competed to give us an early look at what we should expect this spring. Here are a few of the 2025 prospects who caught my eye during the two-day event.

6’1” Lawrence Sanford (Wood Elite)
Sanford has multiple people tabbing him as a breakout candidate for this travel season & he has earned it. The flashes have been there since last summer and after having a strong finish to the high school season, he has momentum & confidence heading into the spring. Wood Elite defeated Team Huncho on the 1st day of The Opening with Sanford putting up 21 points, including some crucial baskets down the stretch. He is just wired to score as a guard who is skilled & quick off the dribble, a capable shooter, and crafty when finishing in traffic. I like the strides he’s shown defensively using his quickness to make things happen both on & off the ball, and I also think there’s some potential with him as a distributor off penetration. Georgia State and Kennesaw State have already extended offers, a list that is sure to grow.

6’1” Tony Montgomery (Tri-City Elite)
Tri-City went 4-0 on the weekend at The Opening and in both games I saw, Montgomery was a huge part of that. He ended the tournament with a 23-point outing against Norcross Heat, putting constant pressure on the defense when he had the ball in his hands. Montgomery has advanced strength for a 2025 guard and while he can use that to bully opponents, he’s also creative as a handler. When he wanted to get in the paint, he usually could, finishing through contact numerous times & dishing out to teammates when the defenders collapsed. I liked how aggressive & competitive he was on both sides of the ball while still playing with control. Tri-City has an impressive 2025 group and will be worth tracking the next few months.

6’9” Mekhi Ragland (Team Huncho)
At the 16U level, there just aren’t many guys who are a match physically for Ragland. He’s a wide, massively built 6’9” who is able to carve out space & get positioning on the block seemingly whenever he wants. Ragland was productive with his back to the basket when I watched Huncho, showing touch & patience down low. He can use either hand in the paint and passes out of the post as well. There’s some shooting potential with Ragland as well; he has good form and is very confident & comfortable in his 3-point shot, although he can settle at times. As he continues to get in better shape and find a balance between each of his offensive tools, he’ll become a popular name among college coaches.

6’4” Alex Young (Norcross Heat)
Coming off of a solid sophomore year at Brookwood this winter, Young looks to be elevating his level of play even further as he was among the top shooter I saw at The Opening. His performance against Team Forrest was particularly impressive, scoring 23 points to help Norcross Heat claw their way back to make it a tight battle. His form is textbook with a high, quick release that allows him to connect on shots even when defenders are near. He is adding to his game as well with improved ability off the dribble and bringing a willingness to mix things up inside both offensively & defensively. Look for him to keep opening eyes with continued production throughout the spring.