Cameron Boozer, Cooper Flagg headline a star Peach Jam matchup. It lived up to the hype.

Cameron Drummond

July 5, 2023 at 12:31 PM·4 min read

All was still quiet Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. inside the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, South Carolina.

Few, if any people, rattled around the spacious facility, which is the home base this week for the prestigious Peach Jam tournament, the end-of-season showcase for the Nike travel basketball circuit.

Morning walkers completed laps around the facility’s elevated track that rises around several courts.

Cleaning machines swept debris off hardwood surfaces that would soon feature some of the top basketball prospects in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes. Vending machines were restocked with drinks and food for the day’s upcoming visitors.

For now, all is quiet at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, South Carolina.

That will change in about 90 minutes, when the 2 top recruits in the class of 2025 face off.

Cameron Boozer vs. Cooper Flagg coming soon. pic.twitter.com/xUn3dFrWrM
— Cameron Drummond (@cdrummond97) July 5, 2023

And boy, were there visitors.

By 9 a.m., one of the most anticipated scenes in the college basketball recruiting world was fully formed.

A crowd of celebrities, media members, NBA and international basketball scouts and fans packed the largest court inside the building to watch the consensus top two prospects in the 2025 recruiting class face each other: Cameron Boozer (Nightrydas Elite) against Cooper Flagg (Maine United).

The result of the game — a Maine United come-from-behind 73-65 win in Nike’s E16 division, the age group below the Nike EYBL level — was secondary to the spectacle of it.

By the Herald-Leader’s rough count, about 700 people packed into the gym and the surrounding track to take in the contest.

VIP sections were even created to house some of the highest-profile guests like former NBA star Carmelo Anthony and rapper Wale.

All had come to see the headline-matchup of Boozer vs. Flagg, but there were actually four people under that umbrella.

Wednesday’s game pitted a pair of twin brothers against one another.

On Nightrydas, Cameron is joined by Cayden, a fellow five-star prospect. Both players — the sons of former college basketball star and NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer (who was also in attendance Wednesday) — also play high school basketball together at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.

Both Boozer twins picked up Kentucky scholarship offers in May, although it remains to be seen how much their recruitments will span beyond the Duke program with which their father is synonymous.

On Maine United, Cooper is joined by Ace, who also plays with him at nationally renowned prep school Montverde Academy in Florida.

All told, it was a matchup rife with storylines, and one that delivered on just about all of them.

The 6-foot-9 Cameron Boozer — who is ranked as the top player in the 2025 class by 247Sports and ESPN — struggled from the field, making just eight of his 24 shot attempts and finishing the game with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Cayden, a 6-3 guard, provided 11 points, five assists and two steals.

Cameron Boozer is the top-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class, according to 247Sports and ESPN.

Twin brothers Cameron Boozer (12) and Cayden Boozer (2) are the sons of former NBA All-Star and Duke standout Carlos Boozer.

Cooper Flagg — who is ranked as the top player in the 2025 class by On3 and Rivals — was a bit better with his 7-for-18 shooting performance, but found more ways to affect the game, and winning, for his Maine United team.

The 6-foot-8 Flagg finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, in addition to making six of seven free-throw attempts and serving as a conduit for almost all of the offensive actions for his team.

The 6-7 Ace led all scorers in the game with 22 points and added 11 rebounds, while having plenty of moments in which he displayed good basketball IQ.

Cooper Flagg and Maine United with a 73-65 win over Cameron Boozer and Nightrydas Elite.

Flagg with 21-10-7 and Boozer with 22-12.

Ace Flagg also had 22 points for Maine United in front of roughly 700 fans / media / NBA scouts pic.twitter.com/zbTve1OtT1
— Cameron Drummond (@cdrummond97) July 5, 2023

These standout performances, which came in the context of a marquee matchup within a marquee event, helped further underscore the level to which Peach Jam and the Nike EYBL circuit has become a multi-million dollar economic driver and industry.

Within the walls of the Riverview Park Activities Center this week, you could purchase the normal concessions and merchandise that could be expected of a travel sports event, but also get a haircut at a Nike EYBL-themed barber shop, one that featured retro posters of past NBA greats like Louisville’s Darrell Griffith adorning the walls.

Something that further highlights the widespread interest now found in Peach Jam?

Wednesday marked the first time Peach Jam was available for viewing on the NBA app. A total of 20 Peach Jam games were scheduled to stream on the app from Wednesday through Saturday, with eight of those games also being broadcast on NBA TV.

Sunday’s championship games will also be broadcast live nationally on ESPNU.

Kentucky recruit Jasper Johnson started slow at Peach Jam. It didn’t stay that way.

Highlights: Priority class of 2024 UK basketball recruit Karter Knox stars at Peach Jam

Live updates: Top UK basketball recruits play at 2023 Peach Jam to end Nike EYBL season

Peach Jam 2023 is here. What to know about every Kentucky basketball recruit playing.

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