Despite Okoth Masterclass AL Fusion 16u Bounced out of Peach Jam

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alabama Fusion 16u forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194617' first='DJ' last='Okoth']</strong> did everything asked of him and then some Friday evening. The State Champion, along with his longtime partner-in-crime <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194475' first='Braylon' last='Williams']</strong>, took a late lead over MoKan only to sputter in overtime, losing 85-78. Okoth finished with 33 points (12-21 FG) and eight rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/2078208416887996814?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/2078208416887996814?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much has been written about both Braylon and DJ here, so this will focus primarily on the game and the setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alabama Fusion featured a very strong team this summer with these five starting most games: [player_tooltip player_id='2194617' first='DJ' last='Okoth'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194475' first='Braylon' last='Williams'], Eric Dampier Jr., Antonio Hill, Tre Pittman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2784747' first='Rod' last='Lucas'] </strong>is the third Tennessee-based dude on the 16u team while most are from other states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alabama Fusion 16u got out early, scoring 22 points in the first quarter and leading by 10. The Fusion's Okoth scored 10 points in the first quarter along with four rebounds. He was dominant. Dampier Jr. being on the court enabled DJ to attack team's "second big" and he just blew past or dominated the glass. In the first quarter alone Dampier + Okoth collected 11 rebounds combined!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braylon was the primary ballhandler and Fusion often initiated the attack with a high screen from the wing. Williams makes a lot of good decisions within that set. Williams scored six points int he second quarter, hitting his only two shots...both 3's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The inflection point occurred when Dampier Jr. fouled out. He scored just one basket in the fourth with one rebound. He did not get to play most of it and did not play in overtime obviously. The lack of height defensively had an impact. In the final minute of overtime MoKan's guard <strong>Jesiah Buchanan</strong> slashed to the basket and Okoth rose to block him. DJ did get a ton of the ball but came from the scorer's side/back. The ref saw it as a foul, and Buchanan made both free throws opening up the game to 82-78 at that point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alabama Fusion 16u did not score in the game's final 1:51.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Take</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the game, [player_tooltip player_id='2194617' first='DJ' last='Okoth'] appeared to be a Top 50 player in the nation. He was electric with quickness and spring. His athleticism is unusual at a wonderful size. There was no evidence that he could shoot from the outside. He just did not take shots from there, but he will likely be a college "3". That is something to develop along with penetrating dribbles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2194475' first='Braylon' last='Williams'] played maturely. He was a touch undersized, but not dramatically so. He will battle for the Top PG spot as long as he plays in Tennessee. We did learn that he will be exposed as a small guard in college though. That is just a fact. The quick feet, strong chest, and basketball awareness do wonders for him defensively. And yet they cannot completely compensate when he gives up 4-5 inches to a taller guard. It must be dealt with for whichever D1 team he plays. Williams was and is adept operating in the pick'n'roll. He makes good choices. This was a known known entering the weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Now?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MoKan 16u eliminates Alabama Fusion 16u, ending their AAU season. MoKan 16u advances to the Peach Jam 16u Championship Bracket quarterfinals where they will play CP3, a team out of North Carolina that often recruits Atlanta very, very hard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who knows with whom [player_tooltip player_id='2194617' first='DJ' last='Okoth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2194475' first='Braylon' last='Williams'] will play 17u AAU basketball in 2027? Their hopes of winning the Peach Jam 16u Championship are dashed with the loss. Trey Pearson (Pope John Paul II '26) was the last Tennessee-based guy to win Peach Jam in the 16u age group. He did so with Brad Beal Elite 16u in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->