The Brad Beal Elite 16U boys basketball team made history by winning the championship at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Peach Jam on Sunday morning.
BBE defeated CP3 72-67 in the championship game on Sunday in North Augusta, S.C. The Peach Jam is the most prestigious summer grassroots basketball event in the country.
The club, which is named for St. Louisan and NBA star Bradley Beal, won its first Peach Jam championship. They finished as Peach Jam runners-up at the 17U level on three different occasions.
The BBE team is made up of players from St. Louis and several other states in the region. The three players from St. Louis are Sheek Pearson of John Burroughs and Jamison White and Jonny Jordan of Chaminade. The 6’11” Pearson came up big in the championship game against CP3 with 14 points, four rebounds and five blocked shots. Pearson also blocked six shots in a victory over Pro Skills in the semifinals on Saturday. The 6’8” White had seven points and eight rebounds against Pro Skills in the semifinals while Jordan hit a 3-pointer and had a steal.
In addition to Pearson’s 14 points, BBE had three other players score in double figures in the championship game. Miikka Muuriren, a 6’11” forward, scored 21 points and made four 3-pointers. JJ Andews, a four-star shooting guard from Little Rock, AR, scored 21 points. Jaylan Mitchell, a 6’7” forward from Evansville, IN, added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Brad Beal Elite has several players who have gone on to star at the collegiate level and others who are currently in the National Basketball Association. They include Jayson Tatum of the world champion Boston Celtics, Jordan Goodwin of the Memphis Grizzlies, Moses Moody of the Golden State Warriors, Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, E.J. Liddell of the New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr. of the Charlotte Hornets.