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Mark Pope watches Kentucky targets battle it out in Peach Jam 17U championship

Zack Geogheganby:Zack Geoghegan07/21/24

ZGeogheganKSR

The Peach Jam 17U championship was must-watch basketball for recruiting fans (and fans of the game in general). On Sunday in North Augusta, SC, Nightrydas Elite and the Oakland Soldiers — the top two teams on the Nike EYBL circuit all spring/summer — battled it out for the ultimate title.

Both teams featured a handful of Kentucky’s top recruiting targets.

Led by Cameron and Cayden Boozer along with Caleb Wilson, Nightrydas Elite took home the trophy with a 71-62 victory over AJ Dybantsa, Tyran Stokes, and the Oakland Soldiers in front of a massive crowd of college coaches. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and assistant coach Jason Hart were courtside to soak in the action with close eyes on all five prospects.

This marked the third straight Peach Jam title for the Boozer twins with Nightrydas Elite. They also won the championship in 15U and 16U.

For the winning side, Cameron Boozer capped off one of the most impressive AAU runs you’ll ever see from a top-tier prospect. The 6-foot-9 power forward finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in the win. Meanwhile, brother Cayden — a 6-foot-3 point guard — added eight points and seven assists. Wilson rounded out Nightrydas’ Big 3 with eight points, six blocks, and three assists.

The Boozers have been recruited by Pope since he accepted the Kentucky job while Wilson — a 6-foot-9 power forward — recently noted that the UK staff has ramped up their interest in his talents. Cameron and Wilson are considered two of the top four players from the 2025 cycle. The Boozers have both been offered by Pope’s new staff.

On the losing team, Dybantsa and Stokes did all they could, combining to score 47 points. Dybantsa went for 25 points (on 10-26 shooting) and six rebounds while Stokes contributed 22 points (8-19 FG) and nine rebounds. Dybantsa is ranked No. 1 overall in 2025 while Stokes is No. 1 in 2026. Both of the five-stars have been offered by the Wildcats.

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2024-09-06