by Alex Schwartz

The Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, South Carolina is arguably the best grassroots basketball event there is on an annual basis and this year it also became the Nike EYBL Finals.

At the U17 level, 24 teams competed for the EYBL title, the culmination of three previous events during the spring. When  was over, Team Takeover DC walked away on top, defeating the St. Louis Eagles to finish the event 8-0, claiming the inaugural EYBL traveling trophy.

At the U16 age group, there were 16 teams who competed for the title, with the Georgia Stars knocking off BABC in the championship to finish with a 5-0 record.

There were many standout players at the event in both age groups. Numerous players, some highly-touted and others previously unknown, shined at the tournament and Northstar Basketball has compiled a list of the top performers at the event in each age group. The lists are based solely off event performance. Check out the top players from the 2010 Peach Jam.

PEACH JAM U17 TOP 40 PERFORMERS (min 1 per team, max 3 per team)
Rank. Name, Year, Pos, Ht, High School (State), AAU Team, College
1. Michael Gilchrist, 2011, SF, 6'7, St. Patrick's (NJ), Team Final, Kentucky
2. Brad Beal, 2011, SG, 6'4, Chaminade (MO), St. Louis Eagles, Florida
3. Michael Carter-Williams, 2011, SG, 6'5, St. Andrew's (RI), BABC, Syracuse
4. Ricardo Gathers, 2012, PF, 6'7, Reserve Christian (LA), Louisiana Select, uncommitted
5. Sidiki Johnson, 2011, PF, 6'8, Oak Hill Academy (VA), Metro Hawks, Arizona
6. Marquis Teague, 2011, PG, 6'1, Pike (IN), Spiece Indy Heat, Kentucky
7. Austin Rivers, 2011, SG, 6'4, Winter Park (FL), Each 1 Teach 1, uncommitted
8. Omar Calhoun, 2012, SG, 6'3, Christ the King (NY), New York Gauchos, uncommitted
9. Jabari Brown, 2011, SG, 6'4, Oakland (CA), Drew Gooden Oakland Soldiers, uncommitted
10. Kyle Wiltjer, 2011, PF, 6'9, Jesuit (OR), Drew Gooden Oakland Soldiers, uncommitted
11. Wayne Blackshear, 2011, SG, 6'5, Morgan Park (IL), Mac Irvin Fire, Louisville
12. Anthony Davis, 2011, PF, 6'9, Perspectives Charter (IL), Meanstreets, uncommitted
13. Malcolm Brogdon, 2011, SG, 6'4, Greater Atlanta Christian Academy (GA), uncommitted
14. Marvin Singleton, 2011, PF, 6'5, Hopkins (MN), Howard Pulley Panthers, Northern Iowa
15. Michael Gbinije, 2011, SF, 6'6, Benedictine (VA), Team Takeover DC, Duke
16. Kyle Anderson, 2012, SF, 6'8, St. Anthony's (NJ), New Jersey Playaz, uncommitted
17. Dominique Pointer, 2011, SF, 6'5, Quality Education Academy (NC), The Family, uncommitted
18. James McAdoo, 2011, PF, 6'8, Norfolk Christian (VA), Boo Williams, North Carolina
19. Joe Coleman, 2011, SG, 6'4, Hopkins (MN), Howard Pulley Panthers, uncommitted
20. Cinmeon Bowers, 2012, PF, 6'7, Rufus King (WI), Wisconsin Playground Elite, uncommitted
21. Tyrone Johnson, 2011, PG, 6'2, Plainfield (NJ), Team Final, Villanova
22. Levi Randolph, 2011, SG, 6'5, Bob Jones (AL), Alabama Challenge, Alabama
23. Kevin Johnson, 2011, C, 6'10, Taft (CA), California Supreme, uncommitted
24. Nic Moore, 2011, PG, 5'10, Warsaw (IN), Spiece Indy Heat, uncommitted
25. AJ Hammons, 2012, C, 6'11, Oak Hill Academy (VA), Spiece Indy Heat, uncommitted
26. Roosevelt Jones, 2011, SG, 6'4, O'Fallon (IL), St. Louis Eagles, Butler
27. Shaq Boga, 2011, PG, 6'0, McCluer (MO), St. Louis Eagles, uncommitted
28. James Robinson, 2012, PG, 6'3, DeMatha (MD), Team Takeover DC, uncommitted
29. Phil Greene, 2011, SG, 6'3, Julian (IL), Meanstreets, uncommitted
30. Deonte Houston, 2011, PG, 6'0, Wings Academy (NY), Metro Hawks, uncommitted
31. Dorian Finney-Smith, 2011, SF, 6'7, IC Norcom (VA), Boo Williams, uncommitted
32. Nick Johnson, 2011, SG, 6'3, Findlay Prep (NV), Drew Gooden Oakland Soldiers, uncommitted
33. Trey Burke, 2011, PG, 6'1, Northland (OH), All-Ohio Red, uncommitted
34. Derrick Millinghaus, 2011, PG, 5'10, Schenectady (NY), Albany City Rocks, uncommitted
35. Charles Eaton, 2011, SG, 6'2, Selma (AL), Alabama Challenge, uncommitted
36. Josh Richardson, 2011, SF, 6'5, Edmond Santa Fe (OK), Athletes First, uncommitted
37. Kedren Johnson, 2011, PG, 6'4, Marshall County (TN), Georgia Stars, uncommitted
38. Amir Williams, 2011, C, 6'9, Detroit Country Day School (MI), The Family, uncommitted
39. Rashawn Rembert, 2011, SG, 6'3, Sickles (FL), Nike Team Florida, uncommitted
40. Nerlens Noel, 2013, C, 6'10, Tilton School (NH), BABC, uncommitted
First Three Out (alphabetical order)
Julian DeBose, 2011, SF, 6'4, St. John's (MD), Team Takeover DC, uncommitted
Steve Moundou-Missi, 2011, PF, 6'6, Montverde Academy (FL), Each 1 Teach 1, uncommitted
Sam Thompson, 2011, SF, 6'5, Whitney Young (IL), Mac Irvin Fire, uncommitted

PEACH JAM U16 TOP 20 PERFORMERS (max 3 per team)
Rank. Name, Year, Pos, Ht, High School (State), AAU Team
1. Jarnell Stokes, 2012, PF, 6'8, Memphis Central (TN), Memphis YOMCA
2. Georges Niang, 2012, PF, 6'7, Tilton School (NH), BABC
3. Marcus Hunt, 2012, SF, 6'5, North Clayton (GA), Georgia Stars
4. Cameron Biedschied, 2012, SF, 6'5, Cardinal Ritter (MO), St. Louis Eagles
5. Jabari Parker, 2013, SF, 6'7, Whitney Young (IL), Mac Irvin Fire
6. Archie Goodwin, 2012, SG, 6'5, Sylvan Hills (AR), Arkansas Wings Elite
7. Amadou Sidibie, 2012, PF, 6'8, Cardinal Hayes (NY), New York Gauchos
8. Shaq Johnson, 2012, SF, 6'4, Salem (GA), Southern Kings
9. Arnaud Adala-Moto, 2012, PF, 6'6, Episcopal (VA), Team Takeover DC
10. Justin Jackson, 2013, SG, 6'4, HCYA (TX), Houston Hoops
11. Michael Murray, 2012, PG, 5'9, Norfolk Christian (VA), Boo Williams Summer League
12. Jordon Granger, 2012, SF, 6'7, McCluer North (MO), St. Louis Eagles
13. Brandon Morris, 2012, SF, 6'6, Miller Grove (GA), Southern Kings
14. Jerami Grant, 2012, SF, 6'7, DeMatha (MD), Team Takeover DC
15. Jalen Jackson, 2012, SF, 6'5, West Memphis (AR), Arkansas Wings Elite
16. Anthony Barber, 2013, PG, 6'2, Hampton (VA), Boo Williams Summer League
17. Cameron Golden, 2011, PG, 6'0, Ridgeway (TN), Memphis YOMCA
18. Rene Castro, 2013, PG, 6'4, Beaver Country Day (MA), BABC
19. Tyus Jones, 2014, PG, 6'0, Apple Valley (MN), Howard Pulley Panthers Black
20. Kenny Gaines, 2012, SG, 6'4, Whitefield Academy (GA), Georgia Stars
First Three Out (alphabetical order)
Koderrio Fleming, 2012, SF, 6'5, Ridgeway (TN), Memphis YOMCA
Chris Morgan, 2012, SF, 6'6, Gloucester (VA), Boo Williams Summer League
Steve Taylor, 2012, SF, 6'7, Simeon (IL), Mac Irvin Fire

Note- photo is of Brad Beal and is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/