The Peach Jam was formed in 1996 as the Peach Basket Classic. The event became known as the Nike Peach Jam the following year and has been part of the EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) circuit since 2010.
According to The Circuit, about 55 percent of US-born NBA players have competed in the Nike EYBL Circuit.
Held in North Augusta, SC, the Peach Jam was created to showcase the top high school candidates in the country. Each year, Nike brings together the best grassroots teams in the United States and Canada under one roof to compete for a national championship. This is also a great place to see the elite candidates who stand the best chance of becoming future NBA players.
With so many professional basketball players graduating from this tournament, who was the best of the best? The Athletic spoke to past and current AAU coaches, scouts, directors, players and staff who have attended the Peach Jam since 2010.
We haven’t seen a player with the ball this fast since he was in high school. Fox played in three peach jams and is one of the best high school players I’ve ever seen. With his overall athleticism and competitiveness on both sides, Fox was and is a particular talent.
Before moving to Kentucky to play alongside Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo, Fox averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.3 in his last appearance at Peach Jam in 2015 steals per game.
Christian Begg (director Houston Hoops): “De’Aaron Fox has made such a huge leap from his second season in the EYBL to his junior summer. Not only was De’Aaron Fox the fastest on the pitch, he was an elite goalscorer when he had to be and was also among the EYBL’s all-time leaders in assists. On defense, De’Aaron Fox was elite, he was one of the EYBL all-time stealers and a lockdown on-ball defender. His on-court leadership was evident as he led a talented Houston Hoops group to the quarterfinals of the Peach Jam before losing to the St. Louis Eagles with future NBA MVP contender Jayson Tatum.”
Jayson Tatum (St Louis Eagles)
Trevor Trout (Talent Assessor): “Jayson Tatum got off the plane after winning the gold medal for Team USA and was special at Peach Jam (in 2015). He dominated on all three levels this weekend. Midrange was on fire, blowing past people and getting what he wanted. Couldn’t protect him. Had to send him to the line. Led her to the Peach Jam championship game after a buzzer bat from Jordan Barnes. This weekend he cemented his place as the top winger in the 2016 class.”
Corey Frazier (ex Bradley Beal Elite Trainer/Coach): “When Jayson came to Peach Jam, he had just won a gold medal in US basketball. He was well known but only became a star of the future after his defeat of Harry Giles by ESPN. He dominated at all three levels and showcased his rebounding and passing skills in late-game scenarios while averaging 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 48.8 (percent) shots from the field.”
There have only been three teams that have gone undefeated at Peach Jam and won a championship. The 2016 Mokan Elite team led by Young and Porter was one of them.
Porter averaged 26.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 steals on 58.6/43.3/86.5 shot splits before making his way to Missouri to play as a collegiate player. Young averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds on 55.3/47.5/89.7 shot splits. As a freshman in Oklahoma, Young made history by leading the nation in points and assists per game.
Alec Kinsky (The Circuit): “Those eight games were the best duo basketball I’ve seen in grassroots football. They finished Peach Jam with victories of 33, 22 and 28 points. Complete dominance.”
Please: “Trae Young was as smooth as it gets in the EYBL. He played the same as in the NBA. In 2016, together with Michael Porter Jr., they formed one of the best duos in EYBL history. They guided Mokan to one of the most dominant Peach Jam wins in league history.”
There was a reason many scouts and analysts called Wiggins “Maple Jordan.” Wiggins was a must-watch at every gym he played at. Firefighters would often send people away from the door an hour before the alert. The Ontario native averaged 21.9 points and 8.8 rebounds at the 2012 Peach Jam.
Please: “Andrew Wiggins set the EYBL on fire. Andrew Wiggins was a top athlete who scored the ball at great speed. Andrew’s explosiveness made him a highly regarded NBA player. Andrew stepped in for what seemed like an unstoppable CIA bounce team.”
Randle has been a male child since his early days as a basketball player. He brought this dominant attitude and energy to the EYBL in 2012. The future NBA All-Star used power, a high engine and a unique skill set to punish opponents in the EYBL. Randle, a future Kentucky Wildcat, was at the heart of the Texas Titans dynasty.
Marland Lowe (Coach/Coach of the Houston Hoops): “He had one of the highest engines that competed in the EYBL. Add in his footwork and his ability to get into his spots and it was extremely difficult for anyone to ever stop him. He was relentless in his attacks and efforts. He just wore the opposing teams down.”
Gordon’s athleticism helped him dominate the EYBL as a member of the Oakland Soldiers. Add his abilities and you had a recipe that propelled the Soldiers to the 2012 Peach Jam Championship.
The Arizona-moving forward averaged 13.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals during this Peach Jam.
Mark Oliver (Oakland Soldiers director): “He was just a winner. He won at every level. He has a winning mentality. He told me he didn’t just want to make it to the NBA; He wanted to change the game by winning. The Nuggets winning the NBA title this season came as no surprise.”
Nerlen’s Noel (BABC)
Please: “He was a defensive, dominant big player who played with a high engine. He controlled the game by stifling shot attempts and guarding the elite-level pick and roll. On offense he ran like a deer and finished with his athleticism. His shot blocking skills helped lead BABC to the 2011 Peach Jam Championship.”
Tony Parker (former UCLA star and McDonald’s All-American): “He blocked everything, him and Georges Niang. Noel was a human eraser, a freak athlete, and could block anything. He put the teams in a five-minute drought. His defense was his attack. We rarely see kids protect the rim like he did in high school.”
Isaiah Briscoe (NJ Playaz)
Trout: “Isaiah Briscoe was something you just had to be there for. He was the Peach Jam MVP for a reason: 20 (points), 12 (rebounds) and seven (assists) in the championship game (2014). He was a real point guard who could shine. They just didn’t have an answer for him that week in (North) Augusta. Kept everyone off the jump and was adept on the edge. A showman who could maneuver cars bumper-to-bumper through traffic.”
Please: “Isaiah Briscoe was a known winner! He used body control and leadership to run the show for NJ Playaz and was one of the most unique and unstoppable players to ever compete in the EYBL.”
Before going to Kentucky, he averaged 19.2 points and 5.0 assists per game at the Peach Jam.
Carter is the only underclassman to win the Peach Jam MVP and is the Peach Jam’s all-time leading scorer. He averaged 16.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as he led the Georgia Stars to the championship in 2015.
parkers: “It was crazy to see him actually win everything; he was an absolute beast. He was ahead of his time – good on the inside, good on the outside, a good player all round. He was dominant from start to finish in every game he played.”
Beal averaged 20.8 points and 3.3 rebounds at the 2010 Peach Jam, eventually signing to Florida in lieu of offers from Kansas, Duke, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio State and St. Louis.
Please: “He quietly dominated the first EYBL season. His ability to score in transition, hit open threes and excel in midfield helped his team advance to the EYBL Championship before losing to Team Takeover by a point. He played the same way he does now in the NBA.”
Russell was instrumental in his team ending with an undefeated record and a Peach Jam championship. He had 22 points, four rebounds and four assists in E1T1’s 108-102 win over Team CP3.
At a time when athletics was a top priority for every scout, the Ohio State guard was a smart youngster who ripped through defenses with ease.
parkers: “His game was very smooth. At that time he was one of the best passers in the world. He was a true point guard and played at the highest level. He was also able to score on all three levels. A skilled ball handler with great pace who didn’t rely on his athleticism. Ahead of its time in terms of maturity.”
Ayton’s height and athleticism, along with his ability, made him top of his class in 2017. He was one of the most difficult defenders in the EYBL.
Trout: “Deandre Ayton is one of the best bigs I’ve ever seen play in the EYBL – and he hasn’t even been on the circuit that long. I saw him run through Mitchell Robinson and Wendell Carter at Peach Jam in 2016 like it was easy work. (Ayton averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds with two blocks in that peach jam.) Not only was he the best big in the gym, but he was clearly the most talented. Ayton kissed the glass with the best of them. Could put the pill on the wood and shoot it. Had all the switches in the world and was the size of a man. He was something special this week.”
Allonzo Trier (Athletes First)
Trier led the EYBL with 29.4 points per game in 2014. The guard moving to Arizona was a deadly scorer and very difficult to stop. He completed several 30-point and even a few 40-point games.
parkers: “Bucket getter. A tough all-rounder. If you thought you were better than him, he wanted you to prove it. He was a headhunter and always wanted to play the best. Allonzo was one of the most electrifying three-level scorers I’ve ever seen. He could do anything you wanted him to do offensively.”
Austin Rivers (E1T1)
Rivers eventually ended up at Duke, where he played for coach Mike Krzyzewski, but in his final AAU summer, he finished in the top five at Peach Jam in 2010 with 25.2 points per game, while averaging 25.2 points per game.
parkers: “It was crazy; we played him in our first game and Malcolm Brogdon was my point guard. He thought he would get the same respect as he did. But to see them fight was crazy back then, to see how two future NBA players competed against each other. Austin’s game was electric. It was showtime for every game. Everyone knew what time it was when it came to him. It was an absolute show.”
(Note: Barnes played before tonight’s EYBL Peach Jam, but some AAU coaches insisted he be credited as pioneering the Peach Jam.)
Please: “Harrison Barnes was an unstoppable player in the EYBL. Harrison had size, unique skills coupled with a high IQ, competitive character and was extremely fundamental. Harrison Barnes personally was the best player I trained against in the EYBL.”
parkers: “We called him ‘The Black Hawk’.” He was different, super physical and athletic. Very smooth and fast. He resembled Andrew Wiggins athletically, but could also shoot. Watching him, you knew he was an NBA player.”
(Photo by Trae Young: Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images)