Five hot takes from the Peach Jam

Players and scouts just wrapped up a 13-day stretch of games in the Nike EYBL Bubble that culminated in a fantastic championship Sunday. Here are five hot takes that Rivals.com’s Jamie Shaw had coming out of the bubble.

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2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position

2022 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position

2023 Rankings: Top 30

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…and that is OK. Had Bates not been thrown atop a pedestal and talked about as a generational talent while still in middle school, we would have just watched 12 days of a 6-foot-8 playmaking wing averaging well over 20 points per game. What Bates lacks in top-end athleticism or creative handle, he makes up for with an unwavering confidence in his ability to make every shot on the floor.

Is Bates a transcendent talent? No. Is Bates one of the best talents in the 2022 class? Yes.

This is not really a question in my mind because of the smooth way he creates and makes shooting opportunities. Sharpe has a natural explosion with a handle that gets him to his spots, and the ability to pull up from 28-feet.

During the first week of the Peach Jam, Sharpe averaged 21.6 points on 44.4-percent shooting from three. During his second week, Sharpe averaged 24 points, 6.6 rebounds, and three assists on 47.5-percent shooting from the field.

It is easy to see his game translate from level to level, and it showed against the nation’s best.

Unranked coming into the EYBL bubble, Boswell certainly made his name known as he led his Team Why Not (Calif.) team to a one-loss Peach Jam 16u title. Boswell plays fast but controlled, sees the floor well and makes shots. In the championship run, he averaged 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and a steal per game.

Louisville, Kansas, Arizona, Washington, Texas Tech, Texas, Stanford, UCLA, Illinois and USC are the Power Five programs who have already offered.

While Boswell is the best point guard prospect in the 2023 class, his travel teammate, Jared McCain, may be the best guard on the Team Why Not (Calif.) 16s team. The 6-foot-3 combo guard averaged 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists on 50.5-percent shooting from the field and 40.9-percent shooting from three.

Texas A&M, Stanford, Houston, Washington, Kansas, Texas Tech, Louisville and USC are the Power Five programs who have offered. Currently unranked, expect McCain to join Boswell with a high ranking in the upcoming 2023 Rivals150 update.

Jackson currently sits at No. 20 in the 2023 Rivals150. He showed this week that he is able to score from anywhere on the floor, averaging 14.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks on 55.2-percent shooting from the field. Jackson is able to fit into different roles with his skillset and size, playing both 10-feet and in, or creating from the perimeter, and even initiating the offense.

Florida, Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, NC State, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Syracuse are the Power Five programs who have offered.