NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Day two at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam was filled with tightly played contests Wednesday as 10 of 19 games in 17U were decided by 10 points or less, while four games were decided by a single possession.
Much like day one, top prospects like
D.J. Wagner and
Cason Wallace shined brightest against the top competition on the AAU circuit, while under-the-radar prospects like
KyeRon Lindsay continue to make names for themselves on the big stage.
D.J. Wagner of
Camden (N.J.) showed why he is deserving of the top spot in the Class of 2023 247Sports player rankings with a strong showing, going for 25 points, seven assists and five steals. The 6-foot-3 point guard also made 8-of-8 from the free throw line and 3-of-6 on three-pointers. Wagner displayed an elite ability to create open shots for himself and got his teammates involved throughout the closely contested game. Wagner hit a game-tying 3 with 4.4 second remaining over the outstretched arms of a defender. His team was beaten at the regulation buzzer.
Under-the-radar prospectsThe Nike EYBL circuit gives overlooked prospects an
opportunity to prove their standing each year against the nation's top
talent. Unranked 6-7 forward KyeRon Lindsay of
Guyer (Denton, Texas) stood out in a major way in the morning session, with 17 points, 12 rebounds and three assists while shooting an efficient 8-of-13 from the field. Lindsay is the ultimate "glue guy" as he makes his team better without being the main focus. The unheralded prospect displayed an ability to be a capable ball-handler in the open court and showed toughness around the basket.
* Lindsay's teammate,
Jalen Reed, of
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), also significantly outplayed his unranked status, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Reed has clearly developed his game since last season, adding an impressive shooting touch and an ability to handle the ball off the dribble. The 6-8 forward has a serious chance to make his way into the Top 100 ranking if he can continue his improved play next season with the Warriors.
More impressive performersAfter struggling to find his stroke on the opening day, five-star guard Cason Wallace of
Richardson (Texas) had a stellar showing on Day 2, finishing with a game-high 23 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. He made 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Wallace scored on all three levels, finishing around the basket with ease and knocking down open looks from the outside.
*
Nick Smith of
Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.) was another player who stood out as the 6-4 guard scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Smith showed off a smooth stroke and thrived in the mid-range area throughout the contest. He was also a very capable point guard option late in the game after his teammate went out due to injury.
Stat lines of the day
Dior Johnson of
Centennial (Corona, Calif.) stuffed the stat-sheet in a major way, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. The Oregon pledge's impact on the game went much deeper than scoring as he led the game in both rebounds and assists to help his side to a blowout victory.
* Unranked 6-3 guard
Amaree Abram of
Summer Creek (Houston, Texas) also put together a complete performance across the board with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in a one-point loss. Abram continues to impress after going for 19 points, four rebounds and four assists on Day 1.
D.J. Wagner, of Camden (N.J.), had 25 points, seven assists and five steals on Day 2 of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam.
File photo by John Jones
