For at least the last two seasons, the Peach Jam has not only been inundated with basketball stars from elite-level high school recruits to the NBA, it’s also featured a very healthy dose of Augusta-area talent.
In 2021, a team called The Skill Factory, won a Peach Jam championship with a roster full of some of the CSRA’s best ballers. Last year, though no titles were won, there were at least two teams playing in the event that were loaded with local players.
This year, that number scaled back quite a bit as the main players from the area’s backyard were Grovetown rising senior and 5-star prospect Derrion Reid and former Augusta Christian star Elijah Crawford who played on Team Thad from the Nike EYBL circuit.
There was no shortage of NBA stars, though, including the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James.
James, not far removed from a playoff appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers, was frequently spotted court side with wife Savannah during last year’s Peach Jam, cheering on his sons Bronny and Bryce as they competed with LeBron’s Strive For Greatness squad.
This year, the basketball superstar went from involved parent to coach.
With Bronny’s commitment to USC, all eyes were on his younger brother Bryce, and this year, the Strive For Greatness team’s coaches were LeBron and James’ former teammate Rajon Rondo.
LeBron wasn’t just a passive sideline tutor, either. He was among the most animated people on SFG’s sidelines whenever the team would score a bucket or make a big defensive stop. He was especially hyped during SFG’s 67-66 come-from-behind win against NH Lightening Friday, running his team’s record to 3-1 and a three-way tie for first place, record wise, in Pool D play.
Bryce James averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and one assist during his Peach Jam action this past week. He recently got his first Division I scholarship offer from Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University.
Aside from LeBron James and his famous family, several other notable appearances were made by recently retired NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Bradley Beal. They joined the plethora of pro scouts and big-named college recruiters, giving the Augusta area its annual dose of star power its used to seeing each year with the event.
