Don Crenshaw isn't sure that the recent explosion of summer camps and tournaments for standout high school basketball players is such a great thing for the game.
Mr. Crenshaw, Nike's traveling teams director, is just glad he's involved with one of the more well-regarded and long-standing events, this week's Peach Jam in North Augusta.
"Our events are the elite, with the absolutely elite players," he said.
"Some of the other events, they're not necessarily elite. They might provide some opportunities for kids, which is good, but then some people are in it to make money for themselves with no regard to quality for the event.
"This is not like that."
The Peach Jam, in its ninth year, begins today and runs through Saturday at Riverview Park.
It features 24 teams from every conceivable corner of the country.
The variety in regional representation lends itself to parity in the tournament field.
"There aren't any clear-cut favorites in my opinion," said Mr. Crenshaw, who has been involved with the Peach Jam since its inception in 1996.
"There are so many teams that could ascend to the championship."
One of the teams with a relatively high probability of playing in Saturday evening's title game is the Atlanta-based Georgia All-Stars.
The team is led by the backcourt of Mike Mercer and Louis Williams, who have verbally committed to play for Georgia in 2005.
Fans looking for a local team to pull for should get behind Peach Jam Select, made up mostly of local players and led by Josey High's 6-foot-7 forward Dominique Archie.
The Augusta area has already emerged as a winner, according to the Greater Augusta Sports Council, which estimates the Peach Jam will have an economic impact of more than $600,000.
Reach Travis Haney for (706) 823-0219 or travis.haney@augustachronicle.com.
JAMMIN' FACTS
WHAT: Ninth annual Peach Jam
WHEN: Play begins at 9 a.m. today through Saturday
WHERE: Riverview Park in North Augusta
TICKETS: Admission at the gate costs $3 for pool play and quarterfinals (today through Friday); $5 for semifinals and finals (Saturday). Gates open one hour before game time.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
*PROSPECT RATINGS ARE FROM RECRUITING ANALYST BILL HODGE.
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