Interesting Facts about, and highlights of, Augusta players and Peach State and Peach Jam History

Here are some interesting facts about Augusta area players competing in the Peach State Summer Showcase and the Nike Peach Jam AAU tournaments, traditionally held in July, featuring most of the countries best high school basketball players, virtually all of the major college basketball coaches, and hundreds of young men competing for pride and attention:

Southern Select Peach State Highlights

The Southern Select 16 and Under AAU team has advanced to the semifinals of the "Peach State Summer Showcase" in Augusta, Georgia.  The team features four players from the Augusta, Georgia, area:  Frank Booker (Westside High School), Kyle Doyle (T.W. Josey), Ronald Jones (Butler High School), and Rashad Lee (Richmond Academy).  The semifinal contest will be played at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center at 2:20 P.M.

Enjoy the highlights from Southern Select's victories versus the Orangeburg Express and Team Forrest, and click here to find more information about the "Peach State Summer Showcase."

Defenders Select Peach State Update

Twice this week we have posted (here and here) video highlights of the Defenders Select, a 16 and Under AAU team featuring two Augusta area players, Matt Miller (homeschool Augusta Eagles) and Michael Scott (Aquinas High School).  After finishing as the runner up in last weekend's "Super 32" tournament in Aiken, SC, the Defenders won all 5 pool games and advanced to bracket play as the first seed from Pool D in the "Peach State Summer Showcase" in Augusta, GA.  The Defenders were defeated Thursday evening in the quarterfinals by the Carolina Hurricanes.

In addition to the Augusta based players mentioned, the Defenders feature explosive guard Ahmed Hill (#10), forward JT Grant (#23), and center CJ Turman (#33), among other talented players.  The Defenders' next tournament is the "Fab 48" in Las Vegas starting July 22.

Check out highlights from the Defenders' latest 66-41 win versus the Baltimore Stars.  Also, click here for more information about the Peach State Summer Showcase.

Peach State Highlights - Defenders Select vs Atlanta Express

Earlier this week, we featured the 16 and Under Defenders Select AAU basketball team.  The Defenders have now won its first three games of the 2011 Peach State Summer Showcase in Augusta, GA.  The latest win, versus the Atlanta Express, was the team's most difficult contest and its most impressive showing.  After the Defenders led 27-20 at halftime, the Express made a 14-3 run and took a 34-30 lead.  But a barrage of jump shots by Defender guard Ahmed Hill enabled the Defenders to regain the lead and claim a 49-43 win.  Ahmed Hill scored 32 points to lead the Defenders, and Matt Miller added 9 in the victory.

The Defenders Select feature two Augusta area players, Matt Miller and Michael Scott of the homeschool Augusta Eagles and the Aquinas Fighting Irish, respectively.  Next, the Defenders play the South Piedmont Heat at 5 P.M. tonight at Greenbrier High School.  After that contest, the Defenders face the Baltimore Stars Thursday at 9 A.M. at Augusta Christian Schools.  Enjoy the highlights of the Defenders vs Express game.

"The Gym"

"The Gym" is a colloquialism commonly used by basketball players referencing the place where skills are developed and experience is gained.  After a poor performance, an aspiring ball player is put on notice by a respected coach or a more established player with a direct statement such as, "you need to get in the gym."  There is no single gym.  "The gym" can be the driveway with a hoop, the local park where players gather to play half court or full court games, the YMCA or recreation department facility where court time is earned by winning pick up games, the gymnasium or outdoor court that is used sparingly enough to allow the most dedicated player to practice his individual skills without the interference of others, the college basketball court where the most skilled players gather to test themselves against the best competition during the off season, or the school facility where formal practices and games are conducted.  This section of the blog examines the various competitive basketball events in the greater Augusta, Georgia, area:  the formal high school and college games, the spring and summer AAU events, the high school summer leagues and team camps, the competitive pick up games, and the individual workouts.

There is little debate about where "the gyms" are in Augusta, GA, this week (July 11, 2011):  The Peach Jam, a Nike sponsored AAU tournament featuring 40 of the most talented high school AAU teams in the country, and the Peach State Invitational, a tournament that in the past 5 years has gone from a field of 16 teams to one of more than 150 teams.

In this section's first post, we feature two teams in action this week.  The CIA Bounce will battle The Family in its first game of the 2011 Peach Jam Tuesday at 11:30 A.M. at Riverview Park in North Augusta.  The Bounce is a 16 and Under team from Ontario, Canada.  The Defenders Select, a team featuring three local players - Michael Scott, a rising sophomore at Aquinas High School; Matt Miller, a rising junior with the homeschool Augusta Eagles; and Austin Stokes, a rising sophomore at Westminster Schools - will compete in the 16 and Under division of the Peach State Invitational.  The Defenders' first game is Tuesday at 1 P.M. versus the South Carolina Raptors at Greenbrier High School.  See the video below for highlights of our two featured teams.