Tag: nike peach jam

Report: NBA scouts ‘prioritized’ Bryce James during Nike Peach Jam

Bryce James, son of LeBron, had the attention of NBA scouts during the Nike Peach Jam in Strive For Greatness games.

Being the son of LeBron James is sure to garner attention from the professionals. While his youngest son Bryce James is not at the top of the recruiting rankings, NBA teams were sure to take a look at his play during Nike Peach Jam this week.

Krysten Peek, an NBA draft analyst for Yahoo! Sports, reported that scouts from teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks “made James a priority” on Monday, the first day of games.

James scored 12 points, making two of his six 3-point attempts, as his Strive For Greatness team defeated the Expressions in the 16U division 78-69.

Peek wrote:

A 6-4 shooting guard, James has excellent shooting mechanics and a high release. He’s getting to the rim a bit easier and has found a second burst in transition.

Read her full report here.

Here’s a video with three of his shots, two of which are 3-pointers.

On Wednesday, LeBron James and Rajon Rondo showed up to take part in the coaching of the team—to no avail, as the Florida Rebels got the 72-67 win over Strive For Greatness.

A Campbell Hall School (Valley Village, Calif.) shooting guard in the class of 2025, James is hoping to use this school year to improve his play and become a legitimate Div. I prospect. He certainly has the attention of scouts — as proven by the showing at the Peach Jam — but he must continue getting better to make it at the next level.

Related: Top prospects Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer face off at Peach Jam

Top prospects Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer face off at Peach Jam

Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer faced off at Nike Peach Jam for a battle of the top two 2025 prospects, with Flagg getting the upper hand.

Scouts from a dozen NBA teams packed the Riverview Park Activities Center on Wednesday as the top two prospects in the class of 2025, Cameron Boozer and Cooper Flagg, faced off in the Nike Peach Jam.

Boozer is the No. 1 recruit in the class, but Flagg has been fighting to get the better of him and leapfrog the Columbus (Miami, Fla.) power forward in the rankings. Flagg took home MVP honors in a head-to-head matchup last week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.

Flagg, a power forward at Montverde Academy (Fla.), looked to bounce back offensively after scoring just seven points on Monday afternoon — a game he impacted on the defensive end more than the offensive, recording 10 blocks.

Boozer, who helped his team win the Peach Jam title last year alongside his twin brother Cayden Boozer, recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in the Peach Jam opener.

Flagg and his own twin brother, Ace, led Maine United to the win over the Boozers’ Nightrydas on Tuesday with a margin of 73-65. Cooper had 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, while Ace had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Cameron had 22 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, while Cayden, a four-star point guard, recorded 11 points and five assists.
See some highlights from the performances below. The two main attractions scored from all three levels and put their defense on display in the post:

LeBron James shouts Emoni Bates out after dominant Peach Jam performance

Bates scored 31 points in the second half to lead Bates Fundamentals to a come-from-behind win at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam on Thursday.

LeBron James has been around basketball for more than long enough to know a potentially elite talent in the grassroots ranks when he sees one.

On Thursday, James was thoroughly impressed with what he saw with one of the top players in the class of 2022 at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. Highly-touted Emoni Bates dominated for Bates Fundamentals, pouring in 33 points to lead his team to a come-from-behind win after being down by 20 points earlier in the game. Bates scored 31 of his 33 points in the second half to spearhead the comeback, prompting praise from James on Twitter.

Bates was recently knocked off his perch atop the 2022 rankings by Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Team Final center Jalen Duren after just over two years as the consensus No. 1 player in his class. Bates remains an elite prospect despite his one-spot fall in the rankings, showcasing a skill set many have compared to Kevin Durant’s.

RELATED: Jalen Duren passes Emoni Bates for top spot in 2022 rankings

“Extremely thin but has great length for such a skilled player. Plays with strength, though, and doesn’t avoid contact,” 247Sports’ Jerry Meyer said in his scouting report of Bates. “Quick twitch athlete who moves feet well and is quick off the floor. Elite three-level scorer. Has deep range off catch or dribble. Can score in a multitude of ways.

“Handles well, has plethora of moves and can attack either direction. Has a feel as a passer. Dangerous offensive rebounder. Good defensively when focused. Has defensive versatility. Elite, elite prospect.”

Bates’ next move when it comes to where he plays after high school is still to be determined. The 6-foot-7, 185-pound forward was previously committed to Michigan State, but backed off his pledge to the Spartans and is expected to skip college and seek the “most lucrative deal the G League can muster” before entering the NBA draft, according to The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn.

RELATED: Report: Emoni Bates expected to join G League after high school

No matter where he winds up, Bates now has the full attention of one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. Not many players his age can say the same.