Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Peach Jam will be returning for its 27th year but will begin earlier than usual with the tournament starting July 3 at North Augusta Riverview Park Activities Center.
The Peach Jam tournament is happening earlier this year due to the date change in the NCAA college coaches recruiting schedule.
“I think we will see a similar amount of people. There are some people that are going to go out of town, but it also makes it a little bit easier for people to travel in to town,” said North Augusta Athletics and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Jiunnies.
Peach Jam is usually held at the end of the July and always brings great economic impact to the North Augusta and entire CSRA.
“A lot of teams stay in Aiken, and it benefits Aiken County and a lot of teams stay in Augusta,” said Jiunnies. “I want to say Augusta reported over the last two years around $19 million in economic impact.”
Each year, many of the top high school recruits compete at Peach Jam in front of fans, college coaches and many former and current NBA players. In 2022, big names such as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Michigan Coach and former NBA player Juwan Howard were in attendance.
Some local top high school players also play in this tournament and get a chance to shine at the big stage. Grovetown High School’s Derrion Reid will be playing for NBA player Thaddeus Young and Team Thad. Reid is a four-star recruit and ranked No. 60 on ESPN’s top 100 basketball players recruiting list.
Other notable players include number one ranked high school recruit Tre Johnson (Houston Hoops), No. 2 ranked recruit Dylan Harper (NY Rens), Duke commit Isaiah Evans (Team CP3), Auburn commit Tahaad Pettiford (NH Lightning) and Lebron James son, Bryce James (16U Strive for Greatness).
Peach Jam host three age divisions of 17-Under, 16-Under and 15-Under. A champion of Nike’s summer basketball circuit will be crowned at the end of the week.
Peach Jam begins July 3 and will continue until Sunday, July 9. Public admission for the tournament is $15 per person each day.
Christopher Rickerson, an Augusta University graduate, is a correspondent for Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
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