As Peach Jam returns to North Augusta’s Riverview Academy for another annual showcase, their slogans are draped from banners overlooking each court in the gyms: Here to win. Period. and All Focus. No Mercy.
No one embodies this approach in the tournament more than Strive for Greatness’ Brayden Burries. The five-star recruit is ranked No. 11 in the nation and looks to further amaze scouts and coaches with his high motor, three-level scoring ability.
Hailing from San Bernardino, California, Buries has been a mainstay in the West Coast basketball scene since his freshman year at Riverside Poly Prep School, earning All-Inland first-team honors during the 2021-22 season. Coming from a household where both of his parents were collegiate athletes, the pressure and preparation that came with sports was a constant in Burries’ life.
Chaos and confusion ensued with the program after Burries’ freshman season, leading to them being handed numerous CIF Southern Section rule violations. The combo guard was forced to bring his talent elsewhere if he wanted to compete for his high school team once again.
After the brief hiccup, Burries transferred to Eleanor Roosevelt High School for the 2022-23 season–but was forced to sit out a year due to the Southern Section declaring him ineligible for the year. Burries arrived in the 2023-24 season not only in shape and ready to play but with something to prove and a chip on his shoulder.
That season would leave West Coast basketball fanatics in awe of his high-octane drives to the basket and his ability to sink the three ball with relative ease en route to averaging 24.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists (per On3 Sports).
“I was definitely motivated after missing last season, but most of all I was just grateful to be playing again,” Burries told the Press-Enterprise. “I wanted to give my very best every game and not take anything for granted.”
Roosevelt didn’t reach their ultimate goal of a championship that season. Although, he did come away with IE Varsity Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors. Burries is still riding the momentum of his unstoppable play into this year’s Peach Jam.
For the current EYBL season, Burries finds himself in the No. 7 spot for scoring leaders with 20.9 points per game, adding 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists to his averages over 25.3 minutes of play.
Strive for Greatness put Burries together with the talent of Bryce James (#49 position, #22 state), Darrell Harrington (#7 position, #4 state), and Bryce Cofield (41 position, #15 state). After winning their first bout vs. Ohio Buckets led by Burries’ 22-point, 10-rebound performance, spirits and hopes are equally high that SFG can make it to the last day of play.
Burries has been an absolute dawg during his showings this summer, he’s spoken about his obsession and hunger surrounding getting better as a player and it is showing on the floor. While only notching two assists during their opening bout, those numbers will undoubtedly rise as his teammates' shots start to fall more.
Each year, the way the tournament shakes out when considering winners and losers can be unpredictable. One thing is for absolute certain: if Burries’ is on the other end, it spells misery for that team’s defenders–game in and game out.
