The annual right of passage known to fans of the summer circuit is without question the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. The best teams qualify throughout the season for a chance to show case their multitude of skills before the best coaches in the nation.
A newcomer to the scene stirred up some magic this past week putting the nation on notice that they are here to stay.
Say hello to WACG.
In the 16 and under portion of the event WACG made a giant splash finishing in the Final Four going 4-1 and again letting the basketball world know they are for real.
In the opener WACG garnered 35 points from Marvin Bagley (Arizona) and 21 markers from Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy) to secure an 86-83 win over the Mac Irvin Fire.
Garland, a rising sophomore, is flying up the recruiting rankings with his combination of skill and savvy.
Bagley dropped 33 as WACG dispatched of Team Final 82-64. Cameron Johnson (Brentwood Academy) had an outstanding game finishing with 9 points and a game high 8 assists.
Garland finished with 22 and Bagley added 20 points and 16 boards as WACG popped the Mokan Elite 65-53. Tyger Campbell (Indiana) finished with 13 in the win.
WACG moved to 4-0 as Bagley scored 28 and snatched 13 caroms leading to a 73-69 triumph over CP3 All-Stars. Trey Boyd (Mississippi) added 14 in the win.
Garland scored 18 as WACG fell in the semi-finals to the always powerful Georgia Stars 67-62. Campbell added 12 while Bagley was held to 11 but managed to corral 18 boards in the narrow loss.
WACG just put everyone on notice they are a team to reckon with.........dig it.
Elsewhere in 16 and under action at the Peach Jam, Team Penny had a rough go of things finishing 0-3 in the division. T.J. Moss (Memphis East) scored 15 in the second contest an 86-75 loss to E1T1. Moss added 20 and Mark Freeman (Southwind) pitched in with 14 as Team Penny fell to 0-3 losing to the PSA Cardinals 68-64.
In the 17 and under division the Team Penny crew got off to a rough start but brought it together late but could not quite advance to the bracket action of the this prestigious event.
The 17s started the week with a 58-50 loss to the Arkansas Wings. Lucky Cheatham (Southwind) scored 12 while Darrell Brown (Germantown) added 11 in the loss.
Jalen Dupree (Cordova) put his name in the fire scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 boards as Team Penny fell to the CP3 All-Stars 83-59. Brown pitched in with 12.
Team Penny got back to their winning ways in Game #3 besting the Mac Irvin Fire 68-51 behind 13 from Brown and a double/double from Dupree.
Brown had the hot hand again scoring 16 as Team Penny drubbed Team Final 75-59 moving their tourney record to 2-2.
Brown and Dupree both finished with 10 markers as Team Penny closed out their 2015 EYBL experience with a 74-60 loss to Team Takeover.
