NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – NBA scouts and top Division I coaches have packed the gyms at the Riverview Park Activities Center over the past 10 days to see some of the nation’s best high school basketball players at Nike’s Peach Jam. Also watching from the sideline were former and current NBA players, including Ja Morant, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes, Jason Richardson, Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Boozer, some who had children playing in the tournament.
The top two players from the junior and senior classes played their best basketball all summer, and it was No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the 17U championship game when AJ Dybantsa faced Cameron Boozer. Both players put on elite displays of creating shots, facilitating teammates’ defensive versatility, and it was Boozer and the Nightrydas defeating Dybantsa and the Soldiers 71-62.
Some NBA teams have sent up to three scouts to scout emerging NBA talent, including some of the youngest players in the 15U and 16U divisions.
Here are eight of the Peach Jam’s top-performing players and some younger players who caught the attention of college scouts and coaches.
The 6-foot-1 wing showed why he is the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball and the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His combination of length and high motor makes him difficult to defend, and with his 7-1 wingspan, he is capable of deflecting passes and altering shots on defense.
Dybantsa did everything he could to take over the championship game in the third quarter, recognizing mismatches and finishing through contact, but it wasn’t enough for the victory.
Last year, Dybantsa was the top scorer in the 17U division, playing one year, and this year he was second, averaging 23.1 points per game.
The nation’s No. 1 player plans to narrow his college list to 10 schools by the end of the month, with Arkansas, Auburn, BYU, USC, Baylor and Alabama all in the mix.
If Dybantsa is the best long-term NBA prospect, Boozer could be the best high school player in the country based on the way he played this summer. He was named MVP of the FIBA World Cup U17 tournament after Team USA took home the gold medal. During the 10-day contest in Istanbul, Turkey, Boozer averaged 20.4 points per game and showed growth on the 1-5 defense by getting out on the perimeter to defend the switch.
Boozer led his team, Nightrydas Elite (Florida), to three consecutive Peach Jam championships in the 15U, 16U and 17U divisions, something that has never been done before. A 6-9 forward, he averaged 20.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Peach Jam and missed just one shot in the title game, recording 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the victory.
Cameron and his twin brother Cayden have many similar college offers, and many believe this is due to Duke, Miami, Florida, Florida State and Arkansas.
Stokes is the No. 1 player in the rising junior class and doesn’t look like your typical 6-8, 245-pound 16-year-old. Both Dybantsa and Stokes teamed up last high school season at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and opted to play on the same AAU team this summer, going 14-1 during the EYBL regular season and leading the Oakland Soldiers to the championship. Stokes competed in a division on the tour and was also one of the youngest players on the Team USA U17 squad that took home gold earlier this month.
Over the course of a year, Stokes has improved his conditioning and his shot looks much better. The biggest improvement in his game is his passing and court vision, making him a true threat as a power forward at the college and NBA levels. Stokes transferred to Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and there are rumors that he will possibly be reclassified from the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2025, but no decision has been made.
“Right now, I’m just focused on finishing the summer strong and the upcoming high school season,” Stokes told Yahoo Sports. “It’s something my mom and I discussed, but I’m happy to stay in my class and keep improving.”
Stokes’ recruitment is starting to heat up, with John Calipari making him a priority at Arkansas. Texas, Kansas, Auburn, Arizona State, Louisville, North Carolina and Michigan are also in the mix.
Wilson is already a five-star prospect and ranked in the top 10 of the senior class, but the showing he put on at the Peach Jam in front of NBA scouts may have catapulted him into lottery consideration for the 2026 NBA Draft During the semifinals game against Team Takeover (Virginia), Wilson led all players with 29 points, shooting 14 of 18 from the field, and tallied three blocks. He finished the Peach Jam averaging 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
“I just hope to show the NBA scouts who are watching different aspects of my game,” Wilson told Yahoo Sports. “It’s just that I can play alongside other great players and make the right plays, whether it’s helping and blocking shots or intensifying the attack when I need to.”
Duke, Kansas, Auburn, Alabama, Stanford, BYU, Tennessee and Baylor are some schools involved with Wilson.
Last summer, NBA scouts questioned whether Cayden Boozer could be a leading guard at the NBA level. He was hesitant in his decision-making outside of the pick-and-roll and had trouble fighting along the seams and splitting the defense. This year there is no doubt that he could play points at the highest level. His handling and passing have improved significantly.
He led all players in assists (6.6) during the FIBA U17 World Cup and didn’t miss a beat at the Peach Jam, leading all players in the tournament with 6.9 assists per game. He recorded 10 or more assists twice during the week and actually showed more confidence as a primary ball handler when running midcourt or leading the break.
A 6-4 guard, Cayden Boozer has similar offers to his twin brother, and even though the duo has repeatedly said they’re not a package deal, it’s hard to see them splitting up in college with how well they play together on the court.
McCoy is the No. 2 player in the junior class and was also a member of the U.S. team’s U17 group that won gold. He is an explosive guard who can change directions effortlessly and just plays smart. McCoy has good size at 6-4 and can see over the defense to make passes and target players. He led his team, Arizona Unity, to the semifinals and averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while playing in a divisional Peach Jam.
UCLA, USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas and LSU are some of the top schools offering the best guard in the junior class.
Thomas had a great spring and summer. He really increased his intensity on the court and showed more discipline in his shot selection. A score-first guard, Thomas’ handling and footwork have improved with the way he’s able to elevate on jumpers and get past defenders on the way down.
Thomas and his team, New Heights Lightning (New York), faced the Boozer and Nightydas Elite twins in the semifinals, and Thomas kept the Lightning in the game with his offensive production and ability to knock down tough shots. He finished with 30 points in the loss and averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists throughout the tournament.
The five-star guard is moving to Overtime Elite for his senior season and has offers from Kentucky, UConn, Duke, Auburn, Kentucky and others.
For college scouts and coaches who were curious to see Bryce James (LeBron’s youngest son who was inconsistent with his shot all week but showcased his athleticism with one of the best blocks in Peach Jam), they would have been instantly attracted to his teammate, Burries, with how his game translates to the next level. The 6-4 combo guard is a top-15 recruit in the rising senior class and scored in multiple ways while playing for Strive For Greatness (California). Burries was the third leading scorer (behind Dybantsa and Jerry Easter) and averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds. In his last game against Boo Williams (Virginia), Burries was the leading scorer with 30 points (4 of 7 from 3) and added eight rebounds in the victory.
“I just hope to show the scouts and coaches here that I’m a complete basketball player,” Burries told Yahoo Sports. “I can lead the team, do all the little things on the court and be a second coach on the court and score and rebound and do whatever it takes to win.”
Burries mentioned that Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Alabama, Kentucky, USC and UCLA are recruiting him the most right now.
Notable alumni
Miikka Muurinen, a 6-10 wing from Finland, made a great initial impression on NBA scouts who first saw him at the Peach Jam. He shot the ball well from behind the arc, making 14 of 28 3-point attempts during the week, and averaged 17.8 points per game for the Brad Beal Elite in the U16 division.
Top 20 recruits Jalen Montonati also played well in the 16U division for Mokan Elite (Missouri), shooting 46.8% from the field and 40.6% from 3, averaging 17.2 points per game. The 6-8 wing has a handful of offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Houston, Texas and Kansas.
It was hard to lose Baba Oladotun on the court for Team Durant in the 15U division. The lanky 6-10 wing looks like a baby Kevin Durant and has shown upside as a perimeter shooter. One of the best players in the rising sophomore class, he received early offers from Florida State, Louisville, Texas, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Tennessee, UCLA and Rutgers.
Another 15U player who passed the initial vision test as a potential NBA prospect was CJ Rosser from Team United (North Carolina). The 6-8 wing has a smooth jumper with a high release and great footwork in the paint when utilizing the mismatch. His early offers include Virginia Tech and Michigan, with many other top programs expected to be involved.
