NORTH AUGUSTA - Not everyone can be a Barry Bonds or a Peyton Manning.

Those are about the only stars in any sport who lived up to their father's name in athletics.

The comparisons are tougher in basketball. None of the offspring from the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson ever made their mark in the game.

The fact that does not stop the fingers pointing Marcus Jordan's way at the Nike Peach Jam. That fact he is the second son of NBA legend Michael Jordan makes him an instant attraction. "My dad was one of the greatest players ever," Marcus Jordan said, after scoring 18 points to lead his Rising Stars to a win Thursday. "It's tough shoes to fill. But I just want to go out and create my own name and play my own game."

That does not stop the steps of his father from following him onto every court. Marcus Jordan hits the weights every day and takes 4,000 shots per week to smooth out the rough edges in his game.

"Marcus is a pretty good player," Rising Stars coach Brian Davis said. "Is he his Dad? No. But people on the AAU circuit want to see Michael Jordan's son. They expect him to be as good. It's not fair. He is his own player."

The rising junior is competing in the Sweet 16 division. He's been playing AAU ball since fifth grade. He takes the court in glasses and a white headband.

It's a different Jordan brand in the shoes than the original. He's also a good 4 inches shorter than his father's listed height.

He's as chiseled as a 205 pound high school junior-to-be can get. The 6-foot-2 Jordan looks more like the son of Jim Brown or Walter Payton, but basketball is the family business.

There are maybe 450 players at the Peach Jam. Jordan is probably among the Top 200 at the event.

"Every time I've seen him I've never been blown away," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Justin Young said. "I think he'll settle in the Missouri Valley Conference or in the Midwest. Not much bigger. He and his older brother Jeffrey are solid players. Both win games. Both are developed physically and know how to play the game. They are good teammates. But neither is special compared to the very best."

Take away the name and he would be anonymous. Well, if not for the escort that follows him as soon as he leaves the court.

"The only thing that's different with him from any of our other kids is he travels with security people around him," Davis said, who's been coaching him for four years. "His last name is Jordan. His household wants him kept safe."

Tyler Lamb defended Jordan on Thursday. His California Supreme squad lost 72-62 to the Rising Stars.

"He's solid," Lamb said. "But just solid. He's a quick and strong guard. I wasn't afraid of his shot, but he can take you to the hole."

He said it is tougher playing in front of his father than the who's who of college coaches that scouted him on Thursday.

"When I go home the coaches are not going to critique my game," he said. "But I know when I go home my dad is going to give it to me pretty hard."

It's common for the two to pore over his game tapes. Being the heir to the Air Jordan name has its ups-and downs.

"It is a great learning session," Jordan said. "We sit there for hours and go over film and stuff.

"He picks over everything I do. It's good too. But I am sitting there with him going 'Oh lord I am messing up that bad?' It's bad and it's good at the same time."

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.