Featuring some of the nation’s most elite men’s college basketball prospects, the Nike EYBL Peach Jam returns Sunday for the 26th time from July 17 to 24 at Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, South Carolina.
Future college basketball and NBA stars make up a star-studded group of recruits competing for a prestigious grassroots summer championship in three divisions: 17U, 16U and 15U.
Each year, the Peach Jam has an abundance of talent. Among the notable alumni are Kemba Walker, Derrick Rose, Aaron Gordon, Bradley Beal, Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr.
This year is no different. We take a look at six names to know and follow during the event.
SG Robert Dillingham
6-foot-1, 170 pounds
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 5
Peach Jam team: CP3
Dillingham is one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the 2023 class. A 6-1, 170-pound guard with a huge scoring punch, he can make the simple play and also show flair to ignite the crowd.
His cleverness and shiftiness, along with his deep range and shooting touch from different spots on the floor, make him difficult to guard. What makes him special and fun to watch is his ability to change tempos. He has a knack for getting defenders off balance by decelerating and creating his own scoring opportunity.
The five-star recruit is a great fit for Kentucky‘s program, as he has a scorer’s mentality and the talent to turn a broken play into points.
SG Jared McCain
6-foot-2, 175 pounds
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 23
Peach Jam team: Team WhyNot
McCain is one of the more composed players in this recruiting class; there is no panic in his game. He is talented and effective both on and off the ball. In transition, he pushes the ball for a quick score, and he also has the ability to survey the defense and find an open teammate.
In the half court, his shot-making ability is a major strength because of his shot preparation, knack for creating space and overall confidence. He plays with vision, spacing and movement off the ball and will read his defender when cutting off a screen for a scoring opportunity.
Part of Duke‘s massive 2023 recruiting class under Jon Scheyer, McCain is dangerous and comfortable turning the corner from a dribble handoff or cutting off a wide pin-down action. A year ago, McCain scored 25 points in a triple-overtime win at the 16U Peach Jam championship for Team Why Not, and he’ll have a chance to replicate that this year.
SG Wesley Yates
6-foot-4, 205 pounds
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 47
Peach Jam team: LivOn — Fleur De Lis
Yates has been one of the more interesting and improved prospects on the circuit. He can score 3-pointers, drive with body control in tight spaces and draw contact. Yates can move off the dribble in a straight line drive or make a purposeful dribble move with change of direction and power
Back in March, he was listed at 223 pounds and didn’t feel he was at his best. Since, he has committed to his diet and conditioning, and it has paid off, as he is down to 205 pounds heading into Peach Jam. The weight loss has helped him across the board, as he told ESPN, “I have a quicker first step, I move better on defense and my game feels better.”
His recruitment is growing more intense. He has already visited Stanford, Auburn, Houston and Washington and plans to visit LSU and Gonzaga in the fall. Recent suitors such as Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Baylor and Memphis are positioning for visits.
PG Edgerrin James
6-foot-1, 190 pounds
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 55
Peach Jam team: Florida Rebels
James has been a steady performer throughout the spring and summer, and was a fantastic scorer and facilitator in the last EYBL session in Kansas City. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, the 6-1, 190-pound point guard was the ultimate leader running the show and leading his team without Sean Stewart, who won a gold medal with USA Basketball.
During game action, his focus is laser sharp. He knows when to step up to score or make others better. His strong and balanced midrange game allows him to score without always going to the basket. He values possessions, especially toward the end of games, and is an excellent free throw shooter.
Simply put, James knows how to win and is a disciplined player on and off the court. LSU recently offered him, and several other teams, including Virginia, Florida State, Utah, Cincinnati, Georgia, Tulsa, NC State, Florida and Ole Miss, are also interested. James will visit Georgia in late August and Cincinnati in late September.
SG Elijah Gertrude
6-foot-4, 180 pounds
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: unranked (four stars)
Peach Jam team: Albany City Rocks
Gertrude is starting to blossom at the right time. He consistently has strong performances, yet flies under the radar. “His humility and character speak volumes about him and his game,” said his coach at Hudson Catholic, Nick Mariniello.
That said, Gertrude also brings an explosiveness and functional vertical to his game. He can catch lobs and finish in both the half court and the open floor. He is a gifted defender when he plays low in his stance on the ball or makes a steal off the ball. He is alert with quick hands and excellent vision.
Though he is not currently among the top 100 prospects in the 2023 class, the four-star prospect is rising quickly. Kansas, Virginia, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Rutgers and St. John’s are all among the schools recruiting him. He will visit Virginia on July 28 and is expected to make his announcement in early October.
SF Cooper Flagg
6-foot-7, 200 pounds
2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 3
Peach Jam team: Maine United
Flagg is only 15 years old, but the No. 3 rising sophomore is fresh off a gold medal with USA Basketball in the FIBA U17 World Cup. In 27 minutes in the championship game, he posted 10 points, 17 rebounds, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 2 assists. He fits right in on the biggest stage despite his youth.
Why is Flagg so special so early in his career? He can influence and impact the game both with the ball and off the ball. He does not need to score to make his presence felt. He is a productive, high-level prospect with elite playmaking and scoring instincts, bounce and mobility. Flagg competes on the glass as well.
“His ability to identify and adapt his individual game to what his team needs to win is special,” said Maine United head coach Andy Bedard, who has coached Flagg since he was a second grader. “He makes his teammates and coaches significantly better as the game gets tighter, the stage gets bigger.”
Duke, Kentucky, Iowa, Gonzaga, West Virginia, UCLA, Louisville, Syracuse and Michigan have jumped in his recruitment early and hard.