Peach Jam - Recap

The 5^th EYBL season is in the books and a new champion was crowned after Each 1 Teach 1’s 108-102 victory over the CP3 All-Stars on Sunday afternoon in the prestigious Peach Jam. The Nike season began in Los Angeles during mid-April and finished up in North Augusta, SC during the first live period in July. After taking advantage of AAU free agency in early May, the Florida based E1T1 team went on to finish the year on a 17 game win streak. There were many stellar performances throughout the four day event and here are some of the players that left a lasting impression.

Top 17U Players by Class:

2014

Stanley Johnson, 6’7”, F, 2014, Oakland Soldiers

The Soldiers went 3-2 in Pool Play and failed to advance into the quarterfinals to defend their championship; however Johnson was still dominant in four out of his five games. He finished first in scoring with 25.6 points per game and third in rebounding with 10.2 rebounds per game. On the first day, Johnson watched his team get off to a 0-2 start which included a crazy finish against The Travelers at night (James Bolden hit a game winning three with 0.3 seconds left, followed by a Johnson heave from three quarter court that went in after the buzzer). On Friday and Saturday, he turned into a man possessed and went for 33, 24, and 29 points in his last three games. While not his strong suit, Johnson hit 3-5 three pointers on Friday morning and also used his speed and strength to get to the basket at will. Playing point forward, Johnson was a bull in transition and finished with contact at the rim. He hit some floaters and also a game winning jump shot giving CP3 their first loss after he beat LJ Peak off the dribble. While the Soldiers lost out on a tie-breaker in their pool, Johnson put on the most dominant display of basketball seen all week.

 2015

Chieck Diallo, 6’9”, PF, 2015, Team Scan

This could have easily gone to Malik Newman, but Diallo was just as deserving. He averaged 10 points, 8.2 rebounds, and league leading 2.8 blocks per game. Nobody ran the court harder than Diallo and this led to easy fast break opportunities for lay-ups and dunks. While still raw in the post, Diallo did perform a few nice moves off one dribble while also displaying a solid pair of hands. He had his best offensive game early on with 20 points on 7-11 shooting in an upset of Houston Hoops. In this game he also controlled the paint with his quick leaping ability which allowed him to block shots and corral rebounds. While the offensive skill will come, he already possesses a motor and the fast twitch muscle fibers that will make coaches follow his every move over the next year. 

2016

Deadrick Lawson, 6’8”, F, 2016, Team Penny

Deadrick Lawson - 2016

The younger brother of a teammate and one of the youngest players in the league, Lawson turned into Team Penny’s go-to guy during the Peach Jam. With the Spiece Indy Heat dealing with injuries, Lawson helped lead his team to the semi-finals scoring in double digits in all seven games. On Friday evening, Lawson scored a season high 28 points in a closely contested contest with Team Final. He took advantage of his taller defender and knocked in three’s from the top of the key and also scored in the post with a right handed hook to give his team some breathing room. While he’s a work in process when it comes to shot selection, there is no denying the talent this youngster has. Already able to play inside and outside, Lawson will have a few more chances to make his mark in Peach Jam.  

Top Performers:

Reid Travis, 6’7, 2014, Howard Pulley

In front of a slew of college coaches, Travis gained a ton of new admirers to his rugged style of play. The two sport star was an absolute monster on the offensive end as he averaged 22.8 ppg on 65.6% shooting. He used his physicality to out muscle defenders down low but also stepped outside of the paint to consistently knock down his 12-15 foot jump shots. On Friday morning, Travis went for 29 points on 11-13 shooting as he mixed in dunks with right handed hooks and mid-range jump shots. Throughout the entire spring and summer AAU season, Travis has time and time again performed at a high level.

Joel Berry, 6’0”, PG, 2014, E1T1

The leader of the championship team was point guard Joel Berry who controlled the tempo and orchestrated the offense throughout the weekend. The future Tar Heel averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 assists per game in front of his future coach Roy Williams. Berry primarily ran the high pick and roll with big man Trayvon Reed and curled off the screen for mid-range jump shots or found his talented teammates for easy baskets. He saved his best game for last when he scored 22 points on 8-16 shooting to go with eight assists in the championship game. After winning a state championship, Berry can add an EYBL one to his resume. 

D’Angelo Russell, 6’4”, SG, 2014, E1T1

The much maligned guard redeemed himself from earlier on in the season with his Peach Jam play. After struggling in April and May, Russell showed why he is considered as one of the top guard prospects in the country. He led E1T1 in scoring with 14.1 ppg, but also displayed his versatility by adding in 5.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. In the semi-finals, Russell put up an extremely rare triple-double sighting with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. Thad Matta and Greg Paulus liked what they saw from their future guard throughout Peach Jam. Also, this is the third year in a row that Russell has won a championship during the first live week in July with the past two coming at the Adidas Invitational with the Louisville Magic.

L.J. Peak, 6’4”, SG, 2014, CP3

Playing in his home state, Peak got off to a fast start scoring 24 points in his first game and double figures in seven out of eight games. Peak’s scoring prowess was a key tool for the EYBL runner-ups as he averaged 16.5 points per game compared to 11.3 during the regular season. Peak was always active on the offensive end whether it was throwing down dunks as he drove through the lane, hitting pull-up jump shots, or shooting three’s. Peak played with the confidence shown during his junior season in games against Simeon and was often the go-to guy for CP3. 

Theo Pinson, 6’6”, 2014, G/F, CP3

Pinson led his team in scoring with 17.4 points per game and was extremely active throughout the tournament. In hard fought games against Meanstreets and in the championship, Pinson got to the line 18 times each game. In these two games he hit 33 out of 36 attempts. While his outside shot wasn’t falling (27%), Pinson was active going to the basket and picking up rebounds (6.2 rbg). Several times Pinson utilized a spin move in the lane to freeze his defender and converted an easy lay-up. He also brought the ball up on occasion and showed a solid handle and strong decision making ability.  Pinson’s full skill set was on display during CP3’s march to the championship.

Aaron Holiday, 6’1”, 2015, G, Cal Supreme

The younger brother of Jrue and Justin Holiday, Aaron made his own name during the Peach Jam. Despite averaging nine points a game during the regular season, Holiday came out with his scoring hat on in the first game Thursday morning. Going against the top regular season team in Team Takeover, Holiday scored 18 points off the bench to spark the upset. He used his speed to aggressively attack the basket and utilized superb body control to either finish amongst the trees or draw contact for free throw attempts. He rarely got blocked and found holes in the lane every game. While Holiday was very hesitant to take outside jump shots, he still went 5-12 from the three point line. After a subpar regular season, it looks as though the light turned on for Holiday. 

Bennie Boatwright, 6’8”, 2014, Cal Supreme

In five games, the tall, lanky wing from the west coast proved to be one of the top three point shooters in the EYBL as he hit on 42% of his 36 attempts. Against the champions, Boatwright connected on six of nine shots from deep. If he has time to get his feet set the shot is pretty much a lock to go in. While a solid outside shooter, Boatwright did not do much in terms of utilizing his height to post-up small defenders or score in the paint. With added strength this could be another dimension that enhances his skill set. 

Charles Matthews, 6’5”, 2015, Meanstreets

Always considered to be one of the top guards in the 2015 class, Matthews left no doubt during the Peach Jam. While he is a very athletic shooting guard, a lot of times Matthews could go a whole game operating as just a jump shooter. With a strong vertical leap, he can get his shot almost anytime and likes to use a crossover dribble to create space. Matthews averaged 13.8 ppg, but was more aggressive than normal during the week. Against CP3, Matthews caught the ball on the wing and took one dribble to get by Pinson and finished with a one-handed dunk down the lane. With a continued aggressive mindset, Matthews could be set for a stellar junior season.

Tyler Ulis, 5’8”, PG, 2014, Meanstreets

The diminutive point guard began his ascension during the high school season and was a man of a few offers. Now, after a stellar AAU season Ulis is still picking up offers despite already cutting his list down. Ulis is one of, if not the best court generals in high school and proved his worth in a match-up with Tyus Jones. In this match-up Ulis went for 22 points and 17 assists with only four turnovers. Despite his size, Ulis can play against anyone. He can shoot the three and also get into the lane off the dribble or pick and roll and can also finish with a floater or at the foul line. Ulis is one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the class of 2014. 

 Malachi Richardson, 6’5”, G/F, 2015, Team Final

The lone junior on a talented east coast team, Richardson and his ridiculous 6’11.5” wing span showed off a little bit of everything to the college coaches attending his games this past weekend. He played his best in the first and last game of the tournament. Against the NY Lightning, Richardson had one of the best hot streaks seen in the Peach Jam. As his team trailed by nine points to start the half, Richardson curled around a screen to score on a soft five footer. He then added in another short jump shot, before hitting two three’s in a row and then three out of four free throws after being fouled attacking the rim. In the semi-finals he went for 23 points on 9-18 shooting. Primarily a shooter, Richardson’s size and length allows him to play and guard multiple positions.

King McClure, 6’3”, G, 2015, Texas Titans

Absent from the EYBL regular season due to an injury, McClure wasted no time in putting up 21.8 ppg. One of the strongest guards you will find, McClure used his running back type frame to attack the basket time and time again. He also hit 4-7 three’s in his first game back. Primarily focused on scoring, McClure showed that he looks to be fully healed just in time for the July AAU season.

Boubacar Moungoro, 6’6”, SF, 2014, E1T1

Moungoro is not nearly as highly rated as his other teammates, but he could have the most NBA potential given his size and strength. Already an ideal height and weight for a NBA small forward, the Mali native averaged 12.1 points per game on 52.1% shooting. While he only shot 29% from three, Moungoro is an athletic slasher that does not shy away from contact when going to the rim.

Stock Risers:

Robert Johnson, 6’3”, G, 2014, Boo Williams

Rob Johnson - 2014

Coming off strong performances at the NBPA Top 100 camp and the Lebron James Skills Academy, Johnson got off to a slow start against Mac Irvin Fire in his first game. Despite the slow start, Johnson got cooking late and led his team to a comeback win which included the go ahead shot (Note: Boo had to forfeit its game due to the use of an “ineligible player”). After his game winning heroics, Johnson stayed hot for the remainder of the tournament averaging 20.2 points per game while shooting 46.2% from behind the arc on 39 shots. With his stellar play over the past month, Johnson recently accumulated scholarship offers from Memphis, Indiana, Georgetown, Providence, and Cincinnati with interest from UNC, Syracuse, and UCLA.

Zach McCormick, 6’2”, G, 2014, The Travelers

The high flying guard from Turpin High recently received a Tennessee offer after his play during Peach Jam. He averaged 12 points a game this past weekend including a 20 point performance against Howard Pulley. In this game he hit a lot of difficult shots including fade-away’s, runner’s in the paint, and contested outside jump shots. Despite only standing 6’2”, McCormick can get up and he putting his leaping ability on display with several two handed dunks. The entire Tennessee staff came out to watch McCormick on Friday and they apparently liked what they saw.

Under the Radar:

Chris Sandifer, 6’6”, SG, 2014, Oakland Supreme

Overshadowed by teammate Stanley Johnson, the recent Missouri commit was an intriguing prospect throughout Peach Jam. During his first few games Sandifer’s preferred method of scoring came via the jump shot; however he also used his athleticism and length to get to the basket. In an upset win over CP3 on Friday night, Sandifer went 3-6 from behind the arc and seemed to gain some confidence. He carried this confidence over into his fifth game and lit up Howard Pulley for 28 points on 4-7 shooting from behind the arc. With all of the Pac-12 coaches on hand to watch Oakland, they were most likely all kicking themselves for letting Sandifer out of the region.

Jarvis Johnson, 6’0”, PG, 2015, Howard Pulley

Howard Pulley was mainly a two man show throughout the EYBL season with Tyus Jones and Reid Travis; however Johnson stepped up his play in the Peach Jam averaging 12.6 ppg. During his five games Johnson proved to be one of the most athletic point guards in the tournament. He was able to beat defenders off the dribble and also flew through the air for some impressive dunks. The high flying athlete can also shoot. Against the Travelers, he went 4-5 from behind the arc and hit 37% of his three point shots overall. With the departure of Jones and Travis, Johnson could be the main show for Howard Pulley next year.

Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, 6’4”, 2014, Team Final

Abdur-Rahkman came off the bench and only averaged 12 minutes a game during Peach Jam, but was impressive in his time on the court. A guard that loves to attack the basket, Abdur-Rahkman was a blur in the open court and quite possibly the best coast to coast finisher in North Augusta. In his first game against the NY Lightning, he caught the ball on the break twice and exploded down the right side of the court and finished through contact. While very explosive on the break, Abdur-Rahkman also connected on 5-9 three point attempts. Originally receiving strong interest from A-10 and CAA schools, some of the Big East coaches might have been enamored with his recent play.

Alex Owens, 6’8”, 2015, E1T1

Owens came off the bench for E1T1 and provided a reliable scoring presence every game. He was a beast on the boards and also had a great pair of hands as he was the recipient of several Berry passes off the pick and roll. Throughout the tournament, Owens shot 76% and averaged 9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Raymond Spalding, 6’9”, 2015, The Travelers

He didn’t start and only averaged 2.6 ppg in 12 minutes, but this upcoming junior oozes potential. A tall and lanky forward, Spalding impressed with his versatility and ability to run the floor. After an injury plagued start to his sophomore season, Spalding is rounding into form. With another year of growth, Spalding should be ready to provide a major contribution to his team in the spring of 2014.

Peach Jam: Day 1

The first day of Peach Jam is in the books and big name college coaches popped in and out of North Augusta, SC all day long. With each team playing two games a piece there was plenty of spectacular play from kids with scholarship offers and those trying to get new offers.

Session 1: 17U

Top Performers:

Aaron Holiday, 6’2”, G, 2015, California Supreme

Holiday came off the bench for Cal Supreme and immediately provided the team with a boost thanks to his slick passing. Right off the bat Holiday got in the lane and found a teammate for an easy lay-up despite a crowded paint area and received several “wow, nice pass” comments from the coaches in attendance. After dropping a few more assists, Holiday started his scoring barrage. At 6’2”, Holiday exhibited superb body control when driving the lane. Several times he got to the basket, drew the foul, and then finished the shot. He did not look to shoot at all from the outside, but instead attacked his defender at every opportunity. Even with coming off the bench, Holiday finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists while providing a spark to help his team knock off one of the favorites in Team Takeover in the first game of the day.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright, 5’9”, PG, 2014, California Supreme

The future Arizona Wildcat did all he could to impress the numerous Pac-12 coaches on hand that will be tasked with slowing him down in the future. Despite his small frame, PJC was not afraid to go after the taller defenders and finished on a consistent basis at the rim. He went 3-6 from the field, but also got to the line 12 times. After beating his defender off the dribble, PJC also found the open man for a game high 10 assists. While he put up 15 points and 10 assists, it was his aggressiveness attacking the glass that was even more impressive. Numerous times, PJC was in the middle of the lane fighting for rebounds with defenders a foot taller than him and finished with a total of five. Along with Holiday, PJC got the best of the Team Takeover guards and put together a mighty fine stat line.

Malachi Richardson, 6’5”, SG, 2015, Team Final

Down nine points at the half, Richardson caught fire to start the second half and quickly closed the deficit. After scoring four points in the first half, Richardson scored 14 points in a five minute span. His first basket came off a pick on the right wing in which he curled to the basket and finished in the paint for a lay-up and the foul. After a short jump shot, Richardson hit back to back three pointers from the wing and then followed that up with a few free throws. Unfortunately after this burst, Richardson didn’t touch the ball in a scoring position for a long stretch. Despite only being an upcoming junior, Richardson has ideal height for a shooting guard along with strength and an outstanding 6’10.5” inch wing span. In his first game at Peach Jam Richardson used his physical attributes and also showed off his jump shot and the ability to score around the rim. He finished with 22 points on 6-12 shooting.

Shep Garner, 6’2”, G, 2014, Team Final

The newly committed Penn State guard played well in front of his future college coach on Thursday morning. With star guard Jaquan Newton struggling at times, Garner took control and played with poise throughout the game. He displayed a quick burst when driving to the basket and also went 2-3 from the three point line, one of which came at a crucial time in the ball game. His final stat line included 14 points on 6-8 shooting with two assists and zero turnovers. 

Angel Delgado, 6’8”, PF, 2014, NY Lightning

Delgado did not play up to his expectations in the first half, but he definitely out worked everyone in the second half. The rugged rebounder finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and began to dominate the defensive boards as the game got tight towards the end. He also had a strength advantage down low and went to work with power moves in the post off one dribble and two handed dunks in the lane. It took the leading rebounder in the EYBL some time to get going, but once he did the Team Final big men were relatively helpless to stop him.

Game of Interest:

Team Penny vs. Mokan Elite

Mokan Elite jumped out to a surprising lead against Team Penny early on and took a four point lead into halftime. For Mokan, speedy point guard Lourawls Nairn penetrated time and time again and 6’1” guard Noah Knight knocked in shots from the outside. The second half turned into a close back and forth affair in large part due to the play of the Lawson brothers for Team Penny. Keelon Lawson Jr. went for 17 points and 5 rebounds while his younger brother Deedrick Lawson scored 18 points with 15 rebounds. Even with these efforts, it was their senior leader Anton Beard who knocked down a clutch three to give Team Penny a 57-54 lead that they would not relinquish.

16U:

Jayson Tatum, 6’7”, G/F, 2016, STL Eagles

One of the top players in the class of 2016 put on another strong performance in front of a slew of head coaches in the early afternoon. Going against All-Ohio, Tatum played his normal point forward position and used his ball handling skills to get into the paint where he finished with floaters or at the basket. Not an overly dominant performance by Tatum, but he did hit a floater off a spin move for the go ahead basket. In the last game of the 16U pool play he helped lead his team to a victory and will have at least one more chance to play in front of the who’s who of college coaches in the playoffs.

Jalen Poyser, 6’4”, G, 2015, CIA Bounce

In a back and forth affair with Southern Stampede, Poyser made enough key plays in the final minutes to help CIA Bounce get the win. In this stretch he drove by his defender on the wing for a lay-up, hit a three pointer and then got an and-one finish off another drive. To go along with these baskets, Poyser might have had the most exciting miss of the Peach Jam. With 1:30 to go he went behind the back from the left to right side causing his defender to fall. Once the ball reached his right hand he exploded to the lane and tried to dunk over a defender. Unfortunately he got to high and the ball caromed off the back rim as the crowd screamed in disbelief. A high level athlete, Poyser made key plays for his team when it counted not including the missed dunk attempt.

Luke Kennard, 6’5”, G, 2015, King James Shooting Stars

Courtesy of UM Hoops

While Jayson Tatum’s game drew some big names, the game between Kennard’s King James team and Team Final drew everyone in town. Calipari, Coach K, Izzo, Matta, Groce, Roy, Larry Brown, and Josh Pastner were just some of the high major coaches that stopped in for a look. Kennard, the flashy shooting guard did not disappoint in the first half. He hit a three of the dribble and another one off the catch early on. He also added in a few no look passes for good measure. Kennard cooled off in the second half, but hit a running lay-up and added in some free throws at the end to finish with 20 points. While not an elite athlete, Kennard can do more than just shoot. He is a solid ball handler with decent quickness and he combines those two factors to beat his man off the dribble on occasion. After his game it was easy to see why some of the top schools are after him.

Tyus Battle, 6’5”, G/F, 2016, Team Final

His team got down from the start, but this did not deter Tyus Battle from putting on a show. He hit two three’s right off the bat and finished with 15 points in the first half and 25 for the game. On his outside shots, Battle had a nice release and rotation on his shot. He is also quite the athlete that allows him to do more than just shoot jump shots. Battle attacked off the dribble and went to the line nine times. On the defensive end he used his strength to push players off their spot and also blocked several shots by the basket. Battle went against another 2016 stud in V.J. King and it’s safe to say that Battle “won the battle.”

Session 2: 17U

Chieck Diallo, 6’9” C, 2015, Team Scan

Continuing on his strong NBPA Top 100 Camp, Diallo dominated Houston in the second half of a very competitive game. While still raw on the offensive end and lacking many true post moves, Diallo still scored 20 points on 7-11 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. Time and time again, Diallo finished on dunks or lay-ups in traffic. He also scored off a power one dribble move to the right side of the basket and an 18 foot jump shot that he actually meant as a lob for a teammate. Diallo is one of the most explosive big men on the circuit and nobody runs the court harder. With his quick leaping ability he also blocked four shots and was the main reason momentum changed hands in the second half. 

Justin Jackson, 6’7”, F, 2014, Houston Hoops

Jackson did not have his normal performance, but still went for 15 points on 7-15 shooting. As he does every game, he hit a variety of floaters from 6-10 feet and also added a nifty one dribble move through traffic for a left hand lay-up. In the second half, he hit two floaters in a row, but then disappeared for a stretch. With the shot blockers on Team Scan, Jackson stayed active on the glass and was credited with four offensive rebounds. 

Robert Johnson, 6’3”, 2014, Boo Williams

Another player who has been playing out of his mind recently is Robert Johnson who lit up the Texas Titans for 23 points (despite the forfeit). Johnson went 4-9 from three and had the college coaches in attendance wondering if he shot like this all the time. With two stellar performances and two wins on the court it’s a shame that his team was forced to forfeit both games due to an ineligible player. 

Game of Interest:

Mac Irvin Fire vs. Jackson Tigers

The last game of the night drew a capacity crowd to court 3 with the top players in the senior and junior classes facing off. Big man Jahlil Okafor is the top ranked player in the class of 2014 while scoring sensation Malik Newman is the top player in the class of 2015 and was coming off a 40 point explosion in the morning. Even though these players at the top, it was Big Cliff who stole the show with a 23 point, 13 rebound, and 4 block performance. Alexander was dunking everything in sight and tried his best to rip the rim off in the second half. With the Alexander dunk fest, Mac Irvin pulled away in the last seven minutes to win by 10 points. Before this run though, the game was very tight and even tied at one point in the second half. For the Tigers, Newman scored nine first half points and then scored a quick 10 to start the second half as the crowd started buzzing about the “Malik show” beginning. Unfortunately the Mac Irvin coaches had other plans and threw every type of junk defense at Newman to keep him out of his comfort zone. Box and one’s, double teams at half-court, traps, triple teams, you name it, and Newman saw it. He scored 25 points, but struggled mightily from the field after his initial second half explosion. To go along with Alexander, Okafor added in 17 points and 16 rebounds while Torry Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points on 3-4 shooting from behind the arc.