After not being open to the fans in 2021 due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, the 26th Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Peach Jam returns to North Augusta’s Riverview Park Activities Center July 17-24 and will be at full capacity this year.
“The fan base in the Augusta area for basketball is really good, and I am sure they’re super excited to have the best players in the country coming back to perform,” said North Augusta Riverview Park Activities Center’s Facility and Program Supervisor Jeremy Jiunnies.
Jiunnies says this tournament helps more than just the city of North Augusta, it helps businesses around the entire area.
“To the city there is a great deal, but the greater good is the economic impact for the whole CRSA,” Jiunnies said.
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The tournament 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 tournament.
Every team competing at Peach Jam had to earn a spot after having to qualify in the EYBL summer league. Many of the nation’s top ranked high school recruits will compete in the tournament. All players will want to play well as many NCAA coaches will be in attendance for Peach Jam.
For the 17-Under group, the top five teams in the EYBL standings qualify for Peach Jam. Four other teams will qualify at large bid to have a total of 24 teams. Only 16 teams qualify for the 16-Under and 15-Under group.
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Last season, a team consisting of local players called “The Skill Factory” won the 15-Under Peach Jam Championship. Grovetown High School’s Derrion Reid, Thomson’s Lavonta Ivery and Jahkiaus Jones, and Elijah Crawford, who previously played at Augusta Christian, were some of the local names. This team will return to play in the Peach Jam 16-Under tournament this year.
Clint Bryant, who recently retired as Augusta University’s athletic director and basketball coach, cited helping found the tournament, which is still going strong after more than 25 years, as a highlight of his career.
“It’s still the most prestigious youth basketball tournament in the world, and it’s still up and running,” he said.
Public admission for the tournament is 15$ per person each day.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
