Each year around this time, North Augusta becomes the center of attention in the world of college basketball.
Coaches from across the country flood Riverview Park Activities Center, looking for players to scout next year.
It can be a little nerve-racking for a high school student who is hoping to be noticed.
"(I'm a) little nervous, but we've got to get out there and play," said 15-year-old Jesse Pernell.
Pernell, a rising sophomore at North Augusta High School, is one of only two freshmen on this year's North Augusta Peach Jam Select team.
Pernell hopes to study engineering at the University of North Carolina or the University of Florida in a few years.
Attracting the attention of a college coach through the Peach Jam now would make that goal a little easier to reach.
"(The tournament) means a lot to me because if I go out and play good, it means bigger and better things for me," he said.
The Peach Jam Select is a local 16-and-under AAU team created to play in the Peach Jam.
The core of the team is made up of the Carolina Hoyas, a local AAU travel team.
When a team from Houston bowed out a few days before the tournament was set to begin, the Hoyas were invited to compete in their stead.
Cameron Alston, 16, a rising junior at North Augusta High School, said Friday that because of the way they entered the tournament, he's heard some people say his team doesn't have a chance at winning.
"Some people don't think we deserve to play in the tournament," he said. "Me and my team, we've worked really hard and we'll prove everybody wrong."
The value of the Peach Jam doesn't lie in winning or losing, Matthews said.
It's an opportunity to players to demonstrate talent and college coaches to see it.
"It's just a showcase of talent for college coaches. If the kids play well, we've done our job," he said.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatodaycom.
Visit northaugustatoday.com for a complete list of Peach Jam scores.
