College's futures meet in tourney

A sneak preview of the Georgia Bulldogs' basketball future will pass through North Augusta this week.

Mike Mercer and Louis Williams - rising juniors at South Gwinnett High in Snellville - form the backcourt for the Georgia All-Stars, the team favored to win this year's Peach Jam. Both Mercer and Williams have already verbally committed to play for Dennis Felton's Bulldogs in 2005-06.

"These guys are a real treat to watch," Peach Jam official Brian Berger said.

The tournament begins Wednesday at Riverview Park. The championship game will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday.

While the Peach Jam Select team might have the most hometown flavor, Mercer and Williams' Atlanta-based team isn't a distant second.

"To have them be from, basically, Augusta's back yard, that's a big deal," Berger said of the 6-foot-3 Mercer and the 6-2 Williams.

"To know they're going to be playing at UGA in a couple of years, that's almost an ever bigger deal."

In its ninth year, the Peach Jam has never been a bigger deal.

The 24 teams entered represent virtually every corner of the United States, from Miami to Seattle.

Additionally, a hoard of college coaches will attend to scout future talent.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina's Roy Williams and South Carolina's Dave Odom are among the coaches expected to be on hand this week.

"It's an honor for the kids to get to play in this," said Dee Pierce, a coordinator for Peach Jam Select, which features Josey High 6-7 slasher Dominique Archie.

"If you don't get exposure, it's difficult to get out there, get your name out there, especially if your team isn't playing for a state title every year. This is an opportunity for the coaches to sit and look at you."

A youth clinic, held by former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, will kickoff the week at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The fourth annual Coaches for Kids Golf Tournament, held by the River Golf Club in North Augusta, will be played at 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Tee times are still available.

Reach Travis Haney at (706) 823-3219 or travis.haney@augustachronicle.com.