By Jordan Divens

You can watch the Nike Peach Invitational July 7-10 exclusively on FloHoops.

The Peach Invitational tournament will be held in Augusta, Georgia, from July 6 to 10. The tournament will feature the 16 Nike Elite Youth Basketball (EYBL) teams that were unable to qualify for the Peach Jam. The tournament will feature some of the most tradition-rich teams in the EYBL, such as the Mac Irvin Fire, Oakland Soldiers, Boo Williams, and The Family. Although these teams didn’t earn a spot in the Peach Jam, they are still some of the most talented on the AAU circuit.

Top Dogs

Favored to win the Peach Invitational, the Georgia Stars (7-9) narrowly missed the Peach Jam after winning the title last year. Georgia Stars feature a talented roster led by guards Davion Mitchell, Jamie Lewis, DeAundrae Ballard, and big man Chuma Okeke.

Southern Stampede were paced by the all-time leading and single-season scoring leader Collin Sexton, as well as Al Durham Jr. They were the only players to average double digits in scoring on the team.

The Family (7-9) is the hottest team entering the Peach Invitational—they won their last five games of the regular season behind a balanced attack of four players averaging double figures (Jermaine Jackson Jr., Jamal Caine, Amauri Hardy, and Greg Elliott).

Team Portis Wings Elite (7-9) also finished the regular season strong by winning their last three regular-season games, and are led by the talented tandem of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Daniel Gafford.

Contenders

Although these teams didn’t enjoy a strong regular season, they will have a chance to redeem themselves at the Peach Invitational. Boo Williams (6-10) had a disappointing season despite the stellar guard play of elite class of 2018 prospect Keldon Johnson and class of 2017 recruit Matt Coleman, but lack strong contributors inside.

The Alabama Challenge (6-10) had a rough regular season, but feature a duo of talented big men who finished first and second on the team in scoring and rebounding: class of 2017's Rayshaun Hammonds and class of 2019's Trendon Watford.

The most prestigious AAU program to miss this year’s Peach Jam is the Oakland Soldiers (5-11), who finished a combined 58-28 over the past five regular seasons and made the Peach Jam each time. They will rely on their star guard Alex Barcello to carry their offense.

Mac Irvin Fire (5-11)​, another well-known AAU program, is led by class of 2018 guard Ayo Dosunmu and its supporting cast, Jordan Poole, DaMonte Williams, and Justin Smith.

Pool Play Match-ups to Watch

Mac Irvin Fire vs. Southern Stampede
The first matchup between these two teams went down to the wire as Mac Irvin Fire took down Southern Stampede 79-76.

Georgia Stars vs. Alabama Challenge
These two teams in neighboring states are always competing for the same talent, and each have a player from the opposite state on their team.

Players to Watch:

2017 6’ 2” PG Collin Sexton: Southern Stampede (GA)
2017 6’ 2” SG Davion Mitchell: Georgia Stars (GA)
2017 6’ 10” C Kaleb Wesson: All Ohio Red (OH)
2017 6’ 8” PF Chuma Okeke: Georgia Stars (GA)
2017 6’ 6” SG Alex O’Connell: Team United (NC)
2017 6’ 8” PF Rayshaun Hammonds: Alabama Challenge (AL)
2018 6’ 5” SG Keldon Johnson: Boo Williams (VA)
2017 6’ 3” SG Matt Turner: New York Lightning (NY)
2017 6’ 4” SG Daejon Davis: Seattle Rotary Style (WA)
2017 6’ 4” PG Jaylen Nowell: Seattle Rotary Style (WA)
2017 6’ 3” PG Alex Barcello: Oakland Soldiers (CA)
2018 6’ 3” SG Ayo Dosunmu: Mac Irvin Fire (IL)

Peach Invitational Tournament Pools:

Pool A
Southern Stampede (GA)
Mac Irvin Fire (IL)
Team Griffin (OK)
Team United (NC)

Pool B
The Family (MI)
Oakland Soldiers (CA)
New York Lightning (NY)
We All Can Go (TN)

Pool C
Team Portis Wings (AR)
Boo Williams (VA)
All Ohio Red (OH)
Elfrid Payton Elite (LA)

Pool D
Georgia Stars (GA)
Alabama Challenge (AL)
Seattle Rotary Style (WA)
RM5 Elite (TX)