Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — The Peach Jam doesn’t hand out an official MVP award, but if they did Nerlens Noel should get it.
In an 84-67 BABC victory over Memphis YOMCA in the finals of the Peach Jam Friday night on ESPNU, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound rising junior had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. Jaylen Brantley led the way with 24 points to lead the Boston-area club to its first Peach Jam title.
Noel’s performance came on the heels of a semifinal performance in which he notched a triple-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocks.
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — BrandonAshley is on the brink of cutting his list.
After putting up 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Oakland Soldiers 79-73 victory over the Playaz Basketball Club in the quarterfinals of the Peach Jam, Ashley said he planned to trim his list to “five or six” soon.
“I don’t really have a list yet,” said Ashley, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound rising senior power forward who will attend Findlay Prep. “I plan on getting that after Peach Jam.”
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Archie Goodwin is here at the Peach Jam playing with a dislocated wrist in his non-shooting hand he suffered last month.
But that didn’t stop him from going off for 30 points and six rebounds in a 76-68 victory over Team Takeover — including a monster, breakaway one-handed dunk in front of Kentucky coach John Calipari, Texas coach Rick Barnes and Memphis coach Josh Pastner.
“That felt good,” he said of the flush. “I’m not a show-boaty type guy but if I do get a little flashy move I’m gonna let you know I did it. So it’s just a good feeling right there to do that.”