Shaw's Scoop: OTE Opening Night recruiting intel; Jahki Howard, Jayden Williams, ZZ Clark

Atlanta, Georgia – If you have never been to an Overtime Elite (OTE) game, their atmosphere is unmatched. The sights, the sounds, the feel of what is happening, it is a true spectacle and one that you will remember. OTE Opening Night was an experience I will not forget.

The OTE program is in its second year of existence. In year one, the program signed players to professional contracts. This season, the program added a scholarship program that allows players to maintain their college eligibility.

With the new OTE scholarship program available, I was able to talk with players about their recruitment and schools. The program has ten players in the program who have maintained their amateur status. Four of them were made available for post-game conversations; I will have a separate Naas Cunningham piece in the coming days.

Here are some recruiting storylines I walked away with.

ZZ Clark talks de-commitment

On Tuesday, three-star point guard ZZ Clark announced he would de-commit from Illinois. Clark’s brother, Skyy Clark, is a freshman for the Illini this year.

“I wanted to blaze my own trail, do my own thing,” Clark told On3. “Being behind my brother (Skyy Clark) for so long, I wanted to blaze my own trail.”

On Thursday night, the 6-foot-2 point guard played 18 minutes in the OTE Opening Night night-cap game. He finished with 11 points and four rebounds on 4-of-6 shooting. Since his announcement just two days prior, colleges have already started reaching out.

“I’ve heard from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and NC State since my announcement,” Clark said. “I’ve heard from a few; to be honest, that is just a couple.”

This process is still new for the three-star; Clark only took one unofficial visit, to Illinois, before committing along with his brother. But this time around, he has an understanding of what he will be looking for in a school.

“I want to go somewhere I feel valued,” Clark said. “Really, I don’t care about going to ht biggest school, but somewhere I’ll enjoy my time. I like playing team ball; all this one-on-one stuff isn’t for me. I like winning by moving the ball.”

Jahki Howard talks recruitment

Earlier this month, four-star forward Jahki Howard announced his final eight schools. He will announce his commitment on November 20th in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.

“I’ve only taken one visit, Georgia Tech, so far,” Howard told On3. “I plan on going on a couple more over the next couple of weeks. I don’t know which schools or when I will visit.

“The Georgia Tech visit was really nice,” Howard said. “I got to see them practice and see the facility. It was really beautiful. They’re very active with me in this process.”

The 6-foot-6 Howard is No. 60 in the 2024 On3 150. This is the noted high-flier’s first year in the OTE program.

“My favorite player is Jayson Tatum,” toward said. “But I try to model my game after Zach LaVine.”

As he goes on his visits, Howard has an understanding of what he will be looking for in a school.

“It’s really about family to me,” Howard said. “I just want to go to the place that is going to be like home to me. How they play will matter, but the coaching staff and how they approach me and get to know me is the most important.”

Jayden Williams’ double-double intrigues

Jayden Williams finished with a workman-like 10 points and 12 rebounds in his team’s 100-to-94 win at OTE Opening Night. The junior signed a scholarship offer to the Overtime Elite program this summer. They have had over 50 college programs come through during the Fall Live Evaluation Period. The majority of them at least expressed interest in Williams.

“I’m hearing a lot from Florida, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Auburn, and Kentucky,” Williams said.

The process is still in its early stages for the No. 61 player in the 2024 On3 150. However, he has taken one visit.

“I’ve taken an unofficial visit to Auburn; that is my only one so far,” Williams told On3. “They have a good program, and all their fans have a lot of love for the players and team.”

Even in the early stages, Williams has an idea of what he will be looking for as he goes through the recruiting process.

“On the basketball side, I want to go somewhere that feels like home,” Williams said. “A place where I get along with the coaches and the players. I want to go somewhere that will push me and make me get better every day.