KSR Today: Hello, Peach Jam
Good morning, folks! For it being a random day in July, today is actually quite an important one. The 2022 Nike Peach Jam event, which caps off the EYBL summer AAU circuit, is set to begin today in North Augusta, SC, and run through the next seven days until Sunday, July 24.
Over the next week, KSR will be sending both myself and Jack Pilgrim down to the event to soak in all the action. Expect plenty of basketball recruiting content from us beginning tomorrow and continuing throughout the week. Sunday’s games begin at 11:00 a.m. EST — you can check out the entire schedule at the link here. Additionally, all of the games should be available through the livestream link here.
Peach Jam is the highlight of summer grassroots play and will feature plenty of top talent. The Kentucky coaching staff will surely make a pitstop or two to check in on their top targets, including current commit Robert Dillingham, who plays for Team CP3. Dillingham’s first action of the week is later today at 6:30 p.m. EST against the Indy Heat.
It’s not just Dillingham who the coaches will have their eyes on, though. The likes of Ron Holland (Drive Nation), KJ Evans (Team Durant), DJ Wagner (NJ Scholars), and Aaron Bradshaw (NJ Scholars) will all be in action, along with plenty of ’24 prospects playing up a level. We’ll have a more in-depth preview of the entire event coming to the site later today.
Now let’s dive into the rest of the news and notes you need to start your Sunday off right.
Anthony Brown is a ‘Cat (and so is John Legend)
Kentucky football’s recruiting momentum continues to trend in the right direction. On Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats picked up its second four-star wide receiver from the class of 2023 in Springfield, OH native Anthony Brown. Brown is the No. 395 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, and chose UK over the likes of Oklahoma, Michigan, Penn State, and Cincinnati.
Chalk this up as another significant recruiting win for Vince Marrow in the state of Ohio. Now the 12th member of Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class, Brown is the seventh player primarily recruited by the Big Dog. The Wildcats have a pair of four-star pass-catchers committed as Brown joins top 200 wide receiver Shamar Porter. Learn more about Brown’s on-field game with KSR’s Film Room.
Following the addition of Brown, Kentucky’s ’23 class jumped up three spots to No. 32 in the On3 Consensus Team Rankings. He also made sure to have some fun with his commitment ceremony too (at the Cincinnati Bearcats’ expense).
KSR’s Freddie Maggard was on location for the announcement and was able to talk with Brown afterward for his thoughts on the decision. You can check that out through the link here.
As an interesting subplot of Brown’s recruitment, he brings John Legend to the Big Blue Nation by association. You see, Legend is Brown’s uncle, and the multi-time Grammy Award winner wished his nephew well shortly after the announcement.
Let’s get a John Legend concert at Kroger Field set up ASAP.
NBA Summer League comes to a close
Sunday will mark the final day of the 2022 NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas, where a champion will be crowned by the time it’s all said and done. The Championship Game between the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks will actually get the day rolling at 3:00 p.m. EST before five more days close out the event.
Kentucky could see as many as five former Wildcats take the floor on Sunday if they all suit up. Olivier Sarr (Phoenix Suns), Isaiah Jackson (Indiana Pacers), Davion Mintz (Washington Wizards), Kellan Grady (Denver Nuggets), and Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz) are all members of teams playing on the final day. Shaedon Sharpe technically is too for the Trail Blazers, but he suffered an injury early on and hasn’t seen the floor since.
3:00 PM EST (ESPN): Trail Blazers (Sharpe; out) vs. Knicks
4:00 PM EST (NBA TV): Bucks @ Raptors
5:30 PM EST (ESPNU): Suns (Sarr) @ Pacers (Jackson)
6:00 PM EST (NBA TV): Thunder @ Pelicans
7:30 PM EST (ESPN2): Wizards (Mintz) @ Warriors
8:00 PM EST (NBA TV): Nuggets (Grady) @ Jazz (Juzang)
Chris Oats takes another big step in recovery process
Kentucky linebacker Chris Oats continues to take steps forward in his road to recovery after suffering a stroke in May of 2020. He stood up with the assistance of his family members for the first time back in March. Now, the Cincinnati native walked with limited assistance on Friday evening.
“I’m YELLING MY SON CHRIS OATS 22 WALKED LAST NIGHT,” Oats’ mother, Kemberly Gamble, wrote on Twitter. “HE TOOK 7 Steps with his arm on my shoulder NO WALKER NO HARNESS JUST ME AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR NOTHING BUT GOD.”
Gamble shared the complete video shortly after, one showing Oats taking seven steps in his home without a walker or harness. Just Oats and two shoulders to lean on.
Of the things we love to see, this is absolutely one of them.
Enjoy this video of Oscar in Coach O’s car
In what is possibly my favorite tweet of the year 2022 so far, Oscar Tshiebwe posted a 25-second clip on Saturday of him just vibin’ in assistant coach Orlando Antigua’s car. Coach O was blasting some classic tunes driving down the road, which Oscar appeared to be tolerating — and perhaps maybe even enjoying?
Kareem Watkins on the other hand? Not so much.
It’s likely the crew (which included Illinois State transfer Antonio Reeves) was headed to the final destination of the team’s Kroger tour across the state, which happened on Saturday in Morehead. But I just can’t get this moment out of my head. Oscar doesn’t even say a word. Watkins and Reeves are completely tuned out. Coach O doesn’t care though. It’s his car anyways — driver should have first pick at the music, in my opinion.
I can’t really explain it, but the whole video just makes me laugh.
That’s all the news and notes I have for you this morning. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, BBN!
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard