2021 Peach Jam: Mid-Atlantic 17U Notes
The EYBL and Peach Jam have come and gone, but not without teams from Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania leaving their mark in North Augusta. Team Durant ‘s Four-Pronged Attack: Dariq Whitehead, Rodney Rice Rodney Rice 6'4" | CG DeMatha…
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Continue ReadingThe EYBL and Peach Jam have come and gone, but not without teams from Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania leaving their mark in North Augusta.
Team Durant ‘s Four-Pronged Attack: Dariq Whitehead, Rodney Rice Rodney Rice 6'4" | CG DeMatha | 2022 State #89 Nation MD , Judah Mintz , and Chas Kelley Chas Kelley 6'5" | PG Phelps | 2022 State PA
KD’s DMV based team plays as far from a heliocentric style of ball as possible. Their small-ball, wide-open attack features four players who can create their own offense and rotates a platoon of guys at the 5 spot, making for a high octane attack.
Dariq is universally considered a top 10 player and potentially the best two-way wing in the senior class. But Team Durant and Peach Jam gave him the opportunity to show he might be able to be more than that. The NJ native was stout on defense, stifling offenses who wanted to punish them for being small (6.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals). Second on the squad with 16.5 points/g, Whitehead got a bulk of his points by running the floor and cutting. In addition to that, he showcased his improved jumper (31.5% from 3) and playmaking upside as an instinctive passer.
Dematha’s CG played up last summer and that experience translated to confidence for him. Rice shot the ball extremely well from deep – many of which were pull-ups or off movement – at 48.3% 3 point rate. From there, his shooting gravity driving lanes that he effectively created for himself and others. Over 11 games, he averaged 15.3 points on 42.4% from 3 (25/59).
Judah’s scoring prowess exceeded expectations. He didn’t take the most shots but he still led the team in scoring (18.2) because he did so efficiently. Mintz shot 48 of 58 from the free throw line (82.8%) and made 72 of 122 field goals (59%), giving him a true shooting percentage of 67.79%. Whenever Team Durant needed a bucket, their tough shot-maker delivered for them.
Kelley was the true PG in their starting lineup with combo guards and wings. He led the team with 3.1 assists, but, more than that, his connective passing (or hockey assists) linked the scoring capabilities of the above three teammates. And when he called his own number (6.7 points), the 6’5 guard showed impressive change of pace on drives and cashed in 15 of 28 treys (53.6%). On the other end, he showed good lateral quickness while defending lead ball-handlers from the opposing team.
Team Melo
Cameron Whitmore Cameron Whitmore 6'7" | PF Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State #30 Nation MD carried a heavy load for Team Melo. He led his team in points (15.7) and rebounds (8.3) while anchoring their defense (1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks). Cam is a willing shooter (3.3 3PA/g), but slashing was his bread and butter. Listed at 6’6, his combination of broad shoulders and functional handle helped him downhill for high percentage buckets. The Archbishop Spalding forward scored 19 or more in 5 games.
The NJ Scholars 2023 Duo: Dajuan Wagner Jr Dajuan Wagner Jr 6'4" | PG Camden | 2023 State #1 Nation NJ & Mackenzie Mgbako Mackenzie Mgbako 6'8" | SF Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #5 Nation NJ
The wing from Gill St. Bernard was as advertised, averaging 15.9 points and 4.1 rebounds. Playing outside-in, Mgbako shot 35.7% from deep, with a 48.2% three point rate on 6.2 attempts per game. His class, height and length make those numbers even more eye popping because of how comfortable he is on the perimeter. Mgbako used that plus positional size to be disruptive on defense too (1.2 blocks/g), where he guarded wings and some post players.
Even in the Peach Jam setting, Wagner played big minutes and was responsible for creating a high percentage of their offense while playing up a level, and he rose to the occasion. He averaged 17.9 points with 3.3 assists in their 10 games, including 1.7 steals. DJ’s wiry frame wasn’t a problem either. The Camden PG and consensus #1 player in the ℅ 2023 held his own against bigger guards like Bradley (Team CP3/IMG) and Floyd (Team Final/Roselle Catholic)
Team Final: Peach Jam Champs
Otega Oweh Otega Oweh 6'4" | SG Blair Academy | 2022 State #91 Nation NJ was the talk of the town during this championship run. He and UConn-commit Corey Floyd Jr Corey Floyd Jr 6'4" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2022 NJ were Final’s version of the splash brothers – throwing down momentum-swinging dunks. One of Coach Johns’s ways to generate instant offense was to call DHOs (dribble-hand-offs) for Otega, giving him a runway for takeoff. His 17 points and defensive playmaking (2 steals) were body blows to Brad Beal Elite as Team Final closed out the title game.
Coach Johns moved Jaheim Bethea Jaheim Bethea 6'0" | PG Math, Civics & Sciences | 2022 State PA into the starting lineup for the last four games and belief in the under-the-radar guard was justified. In those four games, Bethea averaged 7.2 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3.3 steals. His creativity as a passer never waned, despite having more on his shoulders. Jah was often the one pulling the trigger on highlight dunks by Duren, Lively, Oweh, and Floyd Jr. But when defenses didn’t help off of his teammates, the budding floor general made them pay by getting 2 feet in the paint and dipping into his bag of craft finishes.
Honorable Mention
Christian Fermin Christian Fermin 6'9" | PF Pocono Mountain West | 2022 State PA PSA Cardinals
- PA native, averaged 10.4 pts, 6.9 rebs and 1.9 blks
Bryce Lindsay Bryce Lindsay 6'2" | CG St. Frances | 2022 State MD Team Melo
- 62.7% 3PR on 74 attempts and made 32.4%
Dereck Lively II Dereck Lively II 7'1" | C Westtown School | 2022 State #3 Nation PA Team Final
- Led all the entire EYBL/Peach Jam in blocks (3.7/g & 55 total) and shot 11/40 from 3 (27.5%)
Deon Perry Deon Perry 5'8" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2022 State MD Team Melo
- 9.8 pts/g and 37.9% from 3 on 58 attempts
Chance Westry NY Rens
- Central PA native who averaged 12.6 pts, 4.8 reb, 4.6 ast, and 1.6 stl