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Relive 2019 Nike Peach Jam

Relive 2019 Nike Peach Jam

Jalen Green of Team WhyNot

Nike’s Peach Jam is the crown jewel of grassroots basketball and I have been privileged to document the event since 2014. In 2019 I assembled an incredible group of talented storytellers to help me bring a vision of mine that has been brewing for years to life. The result is One Peachy Moment.

After a spring season of three weekends where 40 teams from across America and Canada compete, the top 24 earn a bid to the Elite Youth Basketball League’s culminating event. Only one team, however, will be enjoying fresh, sweet peaches on that fateful Sunday in July.

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 13, 2019. Legendary New York Knick, NBA Hall of Famer, and head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, Patrick Ewing shows love at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike

Picture NCAA March Madness, but imagine all of the courtside seats occupied by the likes of Tom Izzo, Coach K, John Calipari, Jay Wright, Roy Williams, and pretty much every college basketball coach. Teams are fighting for grassroots supremacy and padding their resume for playing at the game’s highest levels. Many of the alumni hear their names called on draft night in June year after year. Some of them arrive at basketball’s upper echelon. All of them weave into the fabric of basketball lore that is Peach Jam. Most will share candidly that a Peach Jam title means more than a state championship at the high school level.

Kennedy Chandler of MoKan Elite scores over the defense of Jalen Green of Team WhyNot in the 2019 Nike Peach Jam championship game.
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 14, 2019. Kennedy Chandler 2021 #1 of MoKan Elite 17U dunks at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike

I get excited just thinking about it. It’s a challenge to find the right words to give it its fair praise. The emotion that goes into the event from all angles is instantly palpable right from the door. I directed this piece with the help of a brilliant group of creatives and storytellers and I could not be more pleased with the outcome.

RJ Davis of the New York Rens
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 13, 2019. RJ Davis 2020 #2 of NY RENAISSANCE 17U pushes the ball at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike

Special thank you to Sean Phazes, Shawn Deloney, Eric Delgado, Alex Woodhouse, Royce Paris, Aldin Medunjanin, Uri Israel, Jay Spinks, Emir Lewis, and Miles Franklyn for sharing their tremendous talents with me for one special week. And thank you to the good people of the EYBL who gave me the support and enabled my ambitions.

Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway enjoys Peach Jam
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 14, 2019. Penny Hardaway and Juwan Howard watch the action at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Jalen Green of Team WhyNot
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 13, 2019. Jalen Green 2020 #4 of Team WhyNot 17U lays the ball in at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Jalen Johnson Nike Peach Jam Portrait
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 10, 2019. Jalen Johnson 2020 #1 of Phenom University 17U portrait at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Blake Griffin enjoys Nike Peach Jam from courtside.
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 14, 2019. Blake Griffin at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Team Final
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 11, 2019. Team Final portrait at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Mike Peake dunks during the Nike Peach Jam Championship game.
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 14, 2019. Mike Peake 2019 #15 of MoKan Elite 17U dunks at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
Bronny James sits courtside at the Nike Peach Jam 17U Championship
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. July 13, 2019. Bronny James at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. NOTE TO USER: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Photo by Jon Lopez / Nike
This 1-minute version of One Peachy Moment aired on ESPN2 during the 17U title game of Nike Peach Jam.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BLUR.PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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