North Augusta, S.C. --- Cameron Tatum had a choice: Spend the next week traveling with his 16-under Georgia Stars to a summer basketball tournament or accept an invitation to play with the 17-under Georgia Stars in this week's Nike Peach Jam Invitational.

He chose to play with the big boys in the big time.

Norris "Bo" Bell's Georgia Stars are the No. 1 17-under AAU team in the country. The team has Louis Williams, one of the nation's top guards, and three other nationally ranked players.

So Tatum went from playing on the 16-under Stars team to a 17-under team that has a 41-2 record and is one of the favorites to win the Peach Jam title. He went from being the star for the younger team to being a role player for the older one.

And that role meant performing all of the rookie duties --- fetching soft drinks, sleeping on the floor with no sheets or pillows, going scoreless while playing a total of 10 minutes in five games.

"It doesn't matter," said Tatum, 15. "New players always go through that initiation type of stuff, especially playing with older kids. And I didn't expect to play that much anyway. When I chose to come here, instead of go with my team, I was doing it for the experience so I can know what it feels like and what I have to do to be ready for this level next year."

Tatum had been following the 17-under Stars for two years and was aware of their lofty status in the AAU circuit.

"It's crazy," he said. "It's like, 'Yeah, I'm one of them now.' It's fun getting all the attention. When we walk in the gym, it's like all eyes are on us. You can tell everyone is watching us like, 'Here come the Stars.'"

Tatum's first chance at Peach Jam play came during the second half of the Stars' first game, a surprising blowout loss to the New Jersey All Stars. With the Stars trailing, Bell put Tatum in the game with four minutes remaining. He missed his only shot.

The lack of playing time did not bother him. His father, Robert Tatum, said he talked to Cameron every day and was sure his son made the right choice. It was all about experience.

"The gym we're playing in can be empty, but as soon as we come in, the stands get packed," the younger Tatum said. "All the big coaches lining the sidelines, people hanging over the balconies. And I'm getting attention just because I have the Stars jersey on. It doesn't even matter if I play; I've had kids come up and ask me for my autograph."

Tatum's time spent with the 17-under Stars should make it easier if he returns to 16-under competition. Right now, he is hoping the 17-under team will keep him around.