Players, coaches head to North Augusta for Peach Jam
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re seeing hundreds of coaches and dozens of talent make their way to North Augusta for Peach Jam.
It’s six gyms full of nonstop basketball.
This year, they added a play-in day to make it more competitive, making it more like their NBA counterparts.
EYBL manager, AJ Richardson, says they partnered with the NBA this year.
“It’s really because the EYCL is a new league that we started last year. So, the play is just like the NBA. The AC gets to play the EYCL team and the YCL team gets a chance to play at EYBL team. And then next year, that EYCL team becomes the EYBL team,” said Richardson.
Local talents hit the court this week for Peach Jam
Peach Jam is set to get underway later this week, and there is some very promising local talent about to hit the court.
More days of basketball equals more days of exposure.
“You get to compete at a high level, they play against their peers. They’re playing against kids that we might see in the NBA in the next year or two,” said Richardson.
From NCAA coaches to NBA namesakes, like Kenny “The Jet” Smith, who heads up Jet Academy.
His team opened the door for Westside’s Dontrell Jackson.
Peach Jam is the last stop on the summer circuit. It’s a tournament that’s made a name for itself over the last 28 years.
Augusta University basketball star lives out lifelong dream
Making the trip across the Atlantic and landing in Augusta was the best thing for one Augusta University basketball star.
Theo Pinson, former UNC and NBA guard, said: “I think it’s something where you’re playing against the best of the best. If you want to be the best, you have got to play against the best. So, I think it’s one of those things where you try to just give everybody something to strive for.”
And you can always pick up where you left off even if you miss a year or two.
“I have not been to Peach in eight years. I’ve always kept up with it. Like I’ll watch games on the internet, something like that. But I haven’t been here in a long time. But like I said, this is the pinnacle right here. So, I always keep up with it even though if I’m not here,” said Pinson.
And Pinson knows what it takes to get where these kids daydream of being.
“I think what they need to realize is like the efficiency of what they do, just show what you’re great at and just be a great teammate one and be a good person. A lot of a lot of this game nowadays is a lot of jobs out of character. And if you don’t have good character, and are you a good person, you’re not gonna make it too far. So, try to work on that and just play your best every single time you go out there,” said Pinson.
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