NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – NBA scouts and high-major Division I coaches packed the gyms at the Riverview Park Activities Center the last 10 days to get eyes on some of the best high school basketball players in the country at Nike’s Peach Jam. Also watching from the sidelines 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 sons playing in the tournament.
The top two players from the incoming junior and senior classes played some of the best basketball all summer, and it was No. 1 versus No. 2 in the 17U championship game as AJ Dybantsa faced off with Cameron Boozer. Both players put on elite displays of shot creation, facilitating for teammates and defensive versatility, and it was Boozer and the Nightrydas edging out Dybantsa and the Soldiers, 71-62.
Some NBA teams sent as many as three scouts to watch the up-and-coming NBA talent, including some of the younger players in the 15U and 16U divisions.
Here’s a look at eight top performers from Peach Jam and a few younger players who caught the eyes of scouts and college coaches.
The 6-foot-8 wing showed why he’s the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball and the early favorite to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His combination of length and high motor makes him difficult to guard on offense and, with his 7-1 wingspan, he is able to deflect passes and alter shots on defense.
Dybantsa did everything he could to try to take over the championship game in the third quarter, recognizing mismatches and finishing through contact, but it wasn’t enough for the win. Last year, Dybantsa was the leading scorer in the 17U division, playing up a year, and this year he was second, averaging 23.1 points per game.
The No. 1 player in the country plans to cut 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 might be the top high school player in the country with how well he’s played this summer. He was named the U17 FIBA World Cup tournament MVP after Team USA took home the gold medal. During the 10-day competition in Istanbul, Turkey, Boozer averaged 20.4 points per game and showed growth in defending 1-through-5 when stepping out on the perimeter to guard 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 at Peach Jam and missed only one shot in the title game, netting 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the win.
Cameron and his twin brother Cayden have a lot of similar college offers, and many believe it’s down to Duke, Miami, Florida, Florida State and Arkansas.
Stokes is the No. 1-ranked player in the rising junior class and doesn’t look like the typical 16-year-old at 6-8, 245 pounds. Both Dybantsa and Stokes teamed up this past high school season at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and elected to play on the same AAU team this summer, going 14-1 during the regular EYBL season and leading the Oakland Soldiers to the championship game. Stokes played up a division on the circuit and was also one of the younger players on the loaded U17 Team USA squad that took home gold earlier this month.
Over the course of a year, Stokes has made strides in his conditioning and his shot looks much better. The biggest improvement to his game is his passing and court vision, making him a true threat as a point-forward at the college and NBA levels. Stokes transferred to Notre Dame high school (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and there are talks of him possibly reclassifying from the 2026 class up to the 2025 class, but no decision has been made.
“As of right now, I’m just focused on finishing the summer strong and my upcoming high school season,” Stokes told Yahoo Sports. “It’s something that my mom and I have discussed, but I’m happy to stay in my class and just continue to get better.”
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 inside the top 10 for the senior class, but the display he put on at Peach Jam in front of NBA scouts might have catapulted him to 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 added three blocks. He ended Peach Jam averaging 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
“I’m just hoping to show NBA scouts that are watching different aspects of my game,” Wilson told Yahoo Sports. “Just that I can play alongside other great players and make the right plays whether that’s coming over for help-side and blocking shots or stepping up offensively when I need to.”
Duke, Kansas, Auburn, Alabama, Stanford, BYU, Tennessee and Baylor are a few schools that are involved with Wilson.
Last summer, NBA scouts questioned whether Cayden Boozer could be a lead guard at the NBA level. He was hesitant in his decision-making off the…
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