Peach Jam: Where history is made, lives are changed

Peach Jam: Where history is made, lives are changed

By Robert Alfonso Jr. 

North Augusta, SC – Peach Jam celebrated its 30th year as the most Elite travel tournament in the country.

This event, like many across the country, puts a nice bow on the travel basketball season where college coaches can come out and evaluate players. Players look to take advantage of the exposure in hopes of winning the Peach Jam championship or boosting their recruitment.

Sometimes it is both.

The latest edition of the event had it all. A player performing on a historical level. making history. Another program going undefeated on the season. One program advancing to the championship game with six players.

Daughtry historical run

Cayden Daughtry had a summer that may be hard to duplicate. The five-star Calvary Christian Academy product went ballistic averaging 32.3 points per game (58.6% from the field, 48.8% from three-point range), 92% from the free throw line, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 steals through eight games. These numbers helped him earn EYBL’s first-ever MVP leading the Florida Rebels to the 17U championship. He finished the season averaging 27.8 point, 6 assists, 4 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.3% from the field, 38.2% from the three-point line, and 90.4% from the charity stripe through the EYBL regular-season. 

This was the programs first title since 2013, when they were called E1T1.

Daughtry, however, was the talk of the week. His games had some of the top college coaches in the country shaking their head amazed by what they were seeing on the floor from the 6-foot point guard. He has become one of the hottest recruits in the country.   

Prior to winning Peach Jam, Daughtry was hooping since mid-June. He went to NBPA camp in South Carolina,. Then went to Colorado Spring for USA Trials before traveling to Turkey for U18 FIBA, which they won the gold medal. He then went straight to Las Vegas before getting to Peach Jam.

Fason from zero offers to notable prospect

A name that popped up college coaches recruiting radar was Troy Fason Jr. New York native entered Peach Jam with plenty of interest and zero offers. Then things changed up quickly. 

The DME Academy product went bucket-for-bucket with Cayden Daughtry, which helped changed his story. Fason finished with 41 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in a triple overtime win over the Florida Rebels. He finished averaging 19.8 points, 3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1 steal through the week.

Fason has been offered by St. Bonaventure, Hampton, Sacred Heart, UTEP, Florida A&M, Belmont, South Florida and Murray State since the end of Peach Jam.

“I knew what I was capable of,” he said. “I just needed the platform.” 

Drive Nation shows its GRIT

While everyone was impressed with the individual performances, the Cinder-Fellas of Peach Jam. The Dallas-based organization advanced to the championship game with only six players. Many programs with those few players would be gassed after playing so many highly competitive games.

Drive Nation looked like the fed off being the underdogs. Its tallest player was 6-foot-7 David Baliraine. They entered Peach Jam shorthanded because 5-star recruit and No. 1 prospect in 2027 Marcus Spears Jr. re-classified up and enrolled at Texas early.

Elijah Páez took advantage of the opportunity averaging 14 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 block through the eight games. Avery Moses ran the point efficiently on both ends of the floor averaging 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals, while hitting 14 three-pointers.

Team Final finished 16U season undefeated

Running an entire EYBL table is never easy. Team Final did just that wining the 16U EYBL Peach Jam championship. They went a perfect 22-0 finish. This was a balanced group with Rowan Phillips leading the way scoring 15.8 points per game. Carter Smith was second on the team in scoring (15.1).