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New York Times

Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith and the best — and most underrated — players at Peach Jam

By Brendan Marks, CJ Moore and Lindsay Schnell NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Well, we got spoiled. Between Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper Jr., then AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer, the 2024 and 2025 high school basketball recruiting classes featured multiple players with the potential to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft. Beyond that, each class had depth: tens of instant-impact prospects who either did, or are poised to, influence the college hoops landscape. Advertisement The 2026 class, though? Not so much. This weekend at Peach Jam — the nation's preeminent grassroots event, which draws hundreds of NCAA coaches, NBA scouts and agents — The Athletic surveyed 31 college coaches, all of whom were granted anonymity because NCAA rules prevent them from speaking publicly about unsigned players. Nearly all were in agreement: 2026 doesn't hold a candle to the last two cycles … or, frankly, many in recent memory. 'One of the weakest classes in the last decade,' said one high-major head coach. Still, there is talent to be had and gems to be uncovered, even if those players aren't as obvious as they've been. Here are 15 of the players our staff found most interesting this weekend in North Augusta. That isn't to say these are the 15 best players in 2026 — just the ones we found ourselves drawn to, for one reason or another. All recruiting rankings are via 247Sports. Tyran Stokes (No. 1 in 2026): Stokes has had 2026's top spot locked down, and while questions persist about his maturity — even from teams heavily recruiting him — there's no doubting his undeniable talent and physical prowess. At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, the Louisville, Ky., native is a wrecking ball going downhill, with a near-unstoppable combination of strength and explosiveness. His 22.2 points per game were the second-most at Peach Jam (behind only Oakland Soldiers teammate and fellow five-star Jason Crowe Jr.), while his 10.4 rebounds per game led all players. Specifically, his 35-point outburst against MoKan Elite — when he shot 5-of-10 from 3-point range, showcasing an improved jumper — was one of the most dominant single-game efforts of the entire event. I've watched Stokes in this setting for three summers, and while he's always been impressive physically, this year he looked like a high-level college player … at 17 years old. Advertisement What gives Stokes such high upside is that his game has moved beyond raw strength and leaping ability. Stokes appeared much more comfortable as a decision-maker, especially when doubled, and despite finishing with more turnovers (21) than assists (16), there are still-unrefined point-forward skills that a college staff can unlock. His motor defensively, like many top high school prospects, can use work at times, but his 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game prove he can be a difference-maker on that end, too. Whichever college lands him — Kentucky, Louisville and Kansas are the front-runners — is getting one of the few instant-impact guys in this class, and someone whose raw talent is befitting of a future top-five NBA pick. — Marks Jordan Smith (No. 2 in 2026): When we asked coaches which 2026 player they would most like to coach, Smith was the clear winner. Their reason? He's a winner. He does not care about statistics. He's an elite defender, elite loose-ball getter and can score efficiently without chasing points. The only thing he lacks is a consistent outside jumper, but he's not out trying to prove he can shoot. He's best driving to the basket or scoring on pull-ups, so that's exactly what he does. He has great touch around the basket, knows how to bump into defenders to create an advantage and can rise in the midrange and get his jumper off because the release is so high. Add in all the put-backs he gets from hustling, and he scores plenty. Defensively, he is awesome on and off the ball. He understands positioning and uses the proper hand on closeouts and strips. He's a coach's dream because he rarely fouls but plays with physicality. His hands are ridiculously strong. That's why he ends up with so many loose balls and rebounds. His 6-9 wingspan also helps. He is only 6-2 but plays bigger. He could step in and start tomorrow and look like an experienced player for any college program. It's rare to see a player with his combination of physical and emotional maturity. — Moore Advertisement Jason Crowe Jr. (No. 5 in 2026): Guys like Steph Curry and Trae Young have made it much more common to shoot from well beyond the 3-point line. The problem is that most players cannot hit that shot at an acceptable rate to justify it. Crowe is one of the exceptions. The ball comes off his fingertips with ease, even when he's 10 feet beyond the 3-point line. Defenders also have to be wary of his ability to get to the rim, and he can hit from the midrange as well. Making it even tougher on defenders, he's a lefty. He is built to score and led EYBL at 26.5 points per game. Crowe committed to Mizzou on Friday, and he should thrive in Dennis Gates' up-tempo system, where he'll likely get the freedom to shoot in transition. I'm curious to see if he can facilitate and make the game easier for others. Sometimes it's hard to play with such a high-volume scorer, and the Oakland Soldiers had two with Crowe and Stokes. At times, it looked like they were just taking turns shooting while their teammates watched, and the Soldiers failed to make the quarterfinal round of Peach Jam, even though they had the most talented combo on the circuit. But there's no denying Crowe is special, especially from the wrist to the fingertips. — Moore Arafan Diane (No. 15 in 2026): Diane was playing at an off-site tournament in Augusta, and we decided to go see the player many coaches believe is the best big man in this class. He's reminiscent of former Kansas star Udoka Azubuike in his size, strength and desire to try to dunk everything and bring pain to the rim in the process. In 13 games logged by Synergy this summer, he had 36 dunks. He runs the floor hard and should be elite at early duck-ins. He's got more game than Azubuike in that he's capable of making a 3 and flashed the ability to pass, too. What I love about Diane is how he communicates. He's always talking, especially on the defensive end. He has heavy feet, and my biggest question is how he'll slide on the perimeter and in ball-screen coverage, but the way he communicates will help him on that end. Like Smith, he also has strong hands and wins most loose balls and rebounds. He needs to work on his body and ideally improve his foot speed, but he has a chance to be a star at the college level. — Moore Caleb Gaskins (No. 16 in 2026): Gaskins looks like an NBA 2K create-a-player come to life: 6-8, 210 pounds and already toned beyond what should be possible for a high schooler. He's productive, too. By recording 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, the Florida native was one of just four players at Peach Jam to average a double-double. Gaskins isn't as physically overpowering as Stokes or Smith, but he uses his size to get to his spots and finish efficiently. I loved the footwork on his turnaround midrange jumper, and given his frame, he's a tough cover as a cutter, too. His shot needs refining — Gaskins' rotation is inconsistent, even if he made five of his 14 3-point attempts — but it isn't broken, either. Everything about Gaskins screams high-level future high-major player. Gaskins already has an official visit scheduled for Texas, but after picking up an offer from Florida this month, his recruitment is far from over. Expect Miami — who just hired Gaskins' former Columbus High coach Andrew Moran as an assistant — to be heavily involved, too. — Marks Advertisement JaShawn 'JJ' Andrews (No. 13 in 2026): Talk about fearless. No matter who was guarding him, Andrews was getting downhill to the basket — and probably drawing a foul once he got there. This was especially true in the semifinals, where he shot 11 free throws, finishing with 16 points. He scored 20 in the final, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, leading his team to the Peach Jam championship. An Arkansas commit, the 6-7 Andrews is unbelievably strong and loved showing it off, battling for rebounds and dishing to open teammates when he got doubled. He's flat-out tough … and no one was brave enough to step in front of him and take a charge. Honestly, I don't blame them. — Schnell Anderson Diaz (No. 26 in 2027): Diaz, one of the few 2027 players who played at the under-17 level, helped the New York Rens reach the championship game as their super sixth man. The lefty was one of the cleverest handlers in the EYBL. He has an advanced feel for his age and plays with a slow heartbeat. He reminds me of former Marquette star Kam Jones in his ability to make hard below-the-rim shots look easy. Not surprisingly, he already has a long list of high-major offers. — Moore Miles Sadler (No. 34 in 2026): Scoring point guards are the norm now, but there's nothing like a true floor general. That's where the (generously listed) 6-foot Sadler comes in. He's always trying to get the ball to the right people, whether he's the one passing it or telling his teammates what to do. He can score when necessary — including off his own misses, which he did a few times in Augusta — but he's a distributor first and foremost. In a win Friday during pool play, he finished with 15 points, nine assists, three steals and zero turnovers. — Schnell Maximo Adams (No. 41 in 2026): Adams had one of the cleanest shots I saw all weekend, and the fact that he made 40 percent of his 3s — on a solid sample size of six attempts per game — more than backed up the eye test. Some college team is going to be happy to have the 6-6, 200-pound wing spacing the floor from the corners. But Adams, whose older brother, Marcus, is currently at Arizona State, is more than just a shooter. He's a willing rebounder, nabbing 10.2 boards per game, and should only keep improving on the glass as he packs muscle onto his frame. High-major offers abound, including additions this weekend from Alabama, Houston and Texas. — Marks Jasiah Jervis (No. 62 in 2026): I was kind of 'meh' on Jervis the first few quarters I watched him, but then he turned it on, and my jaw was on the floor. Jervis was dominant late in the Rens' final pool play game, scoring nine points in less than two minutes during a crucial stretch midway through the fourth quarter. Then he capped his offensive flurry by snagging a huge steal, proving he can impact the game at both ends. Advertisement Jarvis finished that game with 28 points, including 6-of-13 from 3, four rebounds and two steals. In the quarterfinals, he scored a quiet 16 points, also dishing four assists and hit a huge 3 when Team Melo was making a run. He lives for the big moment and should climb up the rankings accordingly. — Schnell Kalek House (No. 117 in 2026): It's tough to stand out playing alongside two top-five recruits in Stokes and Crowe, but House did so while looking like one of the better shooters I saw all weekend. The 6-3, 180-pound guard averaged 18 points and shot 38.9 percent from 3 on 7.2 attempts per game, making multiple 3s in four of five contests. That'll play at the next level. House's genes don't hurt. His father, Eddie, spent a decade in the NBA after starring at Arizona State, and his older brother Jaelan was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year at New Mexico. House also has a twin brother, Kaden, ranked 35th in the class. Beyond the shooting, House has some wiggle with the ball in his hands, and like his older brother, is an incredibly willing defender. He's a candidate to rise up the rankings and is likely high-major bound after picking up offers from Oklahoma State and Wake Forest earlier this summer. — Marks Jamyn Sondrup (No. 141 in 2026): Sondrup, who checks in at 6-10, has a nice, big frame and impressive footwork in the paint. He's not the star of his team but was efficient Friday night (20 points in 26 minutes), though he should grab more rebounds for his size. He's a little foul-prone, but given how well he moves his feet, that can improve. — Schnell Desmond Bellot Jr. (unranked in 2026): I could watch this kid guard the ball all day. Talk about a defensive menace. Offensively, his handle is a little loose, and he has a bad habit of dribbling into some dicey situations. Still, he can knock down open perimeter looks and has a good nose for the ball as a rebounder. His calling card is defense, though, and college coaches will love his ability to create havoc on that end of the floor. Bottom line: If he's guarding you, you're uncomfortable. He's not ranked, but that means someone is going to get a steal. He's a borderline power-conference guy, but could be a mid-major star. — Schnell Lyndell Buckingham Jr. (unranked in 2026): What's fun about covering events like Peach Jam is watching a player you really like, going to 247Sports to see where he ranks in his class and what schools are recruiting him, then discovering he doesn't have a page. It's like coming across an awesome indie band before they blow up. Let me let you all in on a little secret. Buckingham, who has no 247Sports page, is the hidden gem of this class. He's a lightning bolt with the ball. He's one of the hardest players on the circuit to keep in front with his burst, ability to slither through tight spaces and then explode off the ground. He has a skinny frame, but he plays through contact well. The jumper is solid, too. Defensively, he's a gambler who comes away with a lot of steals. He averaged 16.2 points and 2.2 steals at Peach Jam. He has just one Division-I offer, from Jacksonville. I'd expect a lot more soon. — Moore Advertisement Jackson Kiss (unranked in 2026): I'm calling my shot here with Kiss, who, beyond having an incredible sports name, was one of the best unheralded players I saw all weekend. The New Zealander doesn't have a 247Sports page, and most coaches had no clue who he was before this weekend … but that's why you watch the games. Kiss' hustle was ridiculous, and despite playing with several highly-ranked teammates, he seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He made 65.3 percent of his shots, the seventh-best percentage of any player, and averaged 14.6 points through sheer will. Kiss has no discernible perimeter game and isn't overly strong, but if I were a college coach, I'd be all-in on the 6-8 forward who does whatever it takes to win. — Marks (Photo of Tyran Stokes: Katie Goodale / Imagn Images)