McDonald’s All-American Game Standouts
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The West defeated the East 131-128 on Wednesday night in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Atlanta. Which prospects made the biggest impressions during the game? We dive into the standouts here!
SF Nassir Little (Orlando Christian Prep, FL – North Carolina)
Big time game from the UNC commit Wednesday night as he took home MVP honors. Little is a wing that has great size at 6’7” with strength to match. He was one of the few players on the floor that looked like they could make the jump to the NBA after a season. He plays consistently hard on both ends of the floor. Offensively he is at his best slashing to the rim for dunks or getting on the offensive glass for tip slams. Powerful straight line takes off the dribble. He had several monster finishes in this game. The jumper showed consistency on this night connecting on several threes and step backs from mid-range. At the end of the game he took on the challenge to guard Zion Williamson one on one and stopped him twice. Little scored 28 points in the victory boosting his NBA stock for the 2019 draft.
SG RJ Barrett (Montverde, FL – Duke)
Barrett came in as the top prospect in the class and did nothing to take away that distinction in this contest. The angular 6’7” wing is a super competitive kid that brings it on both ends of the floor. Went right around his future teammate Cam Reddish on a couple of occasions. Takes great angles on his drives and has an explosive first step. Finishes well through contact around the rim. Jumper needs to continue to improve from three, but he did knock one down from the wing. Barrett has a chance to go #1 overall in 2019. Barrett finished with 26 points.
C David McCormack (Oak Hill Academy, VA – Kansas)
McCormack is a 6’10” 255 pound center that has great size and is in the best shape of his career. Slimming down has allowed him to improve his athleticism while still being a monster rebounder. He grabs them with his strong hands in the paint. Finished very well inside on an array of thunderous jams. The future Jayhawk had 14 points and 10 boards.
SF Romeo Langford (New Albany, IN)
Langford is the top uncommitted prospect in the country. He has size on the perimeter which allows him to get his jumper off with ease. The Indiana native who is down to Vanderbilt, Kansas, and Indiana got hot from deep to start the second half drilling back to back triples. Then he capped off the personal run with a huge slam. Love his mid-range game and how he operates there. Showed smooth explosion off the bounce. Went for 15 points.
PG Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy, TN – Vanderbilt)
Garland is trying to get Langford to join him next year and with the way he passed the ball any wing would want to play with him. This 6’2” lead guard has a tremendous feel for the game and getting his teammates involved. Vision in the pick and roll is off the charts. He will be problem at the next level in the P/R because of his ability to find others and also knock down jumpers consistently. Leadership is off the charts! Only scored two points, but dished out 11 dimes.
PF Jalen Smith (Mount Saint Joseph, MD – Maryland)
Smith is a pogo stick at 6’10” with his ability to run the floor and finish above the rim. He ran the floor like a deer throughout the contest. Will definitely need to put on strength, but showed high activity around the hoop and shot it a little from mid-range. Some work to do, but like what he displayed in this game. Smith had 12 points.
PF Jordan Brown (Prolific Prep, CA)
Brown is a prospect that I personally haven’t seen play a ton before, but the 6’11” Prolific Prep post showed why he is one of the more coveted uncommitted big men on the board. He finished very well around the hoop with fundamentally sound moves and a soft touch. Efficient with his touches. He is going to be a guy that his long term success will be dependent on finding the right fit at the next level. 26 points (13-19 FG) and 8 boards is a nice night at the office.
SF Keldon Johnson (Oak Hill Academy, VA – Kentucky)
Johnson is an athletic, strong, and big wing that can really put the ball in the hoop. He didn’t have a huge scoring game, but had his moments especially in the transition game throwing down some big slams. The future Kentucky wing was one of the few players that competed defensively as he blocked a jumper and had the defensive play of the night to close the win on RJ Barrett late. He had 8 points.
C Naz Reid (Roselle Catholic, NJ – LSU)
Reid is HUGE at 6’11” 250 pounds. He moves surprisingly well for his size. Even showed he could handle it some and finished well through contact. If he can lock in he has a chance to dominant the paint in the SEC next year. Rebounded well with his ability to snatch them in his area. Final stat line was 15 points and 11 boards.
SG Cameron Reddish (Westtown, PA – Duke)
It has a bit of an understated game from one of the most lethal scorers in the class as he went 5-10 from the field for 11 points. The 6’7” two guard has a smooth shot connecting on one three from the corner. Liked how he passed the ball in this game recording 9 dimes. Also was very engaged defensively with active hands getting five steals. Reddish will compete for the top spot in next year’s draft.
PG Tre Jones (Apple Valley, MN – Duke)
The younger brother of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones does a lot of what his brother did. Gets others involved with his passing. He is an elite level passer knowing how to find others and makes those around him better. Crafty guard that likes to use the floater game in the lane. 7 points and 8 dimes on the night.
PF Reggie Perry (Thomasville, GA – Mississippi State)
The 6’9” Mississippi State commit was the hometown favorite in this one with the game being in the ATL. He has broad shoulders and nice strength. Liked how he stretched the floor with his shooting hitting 2-3 from deep. Solid area rebounder. Perry had 15 points and 7 rebounds.
C Moses Brown (Archbishop Molloy, NY – UCLA)
Brown caught my eye in the scrimmage and did so again in the game. At 7’2” with his insane wingspan he is very intriguing once he adds on strength. Runs the floor very well and is quick to the offensive boards. He had 11 points and 5 boards including four offensive.
Overall Thoughts:
Have to admit I agree with the talk coming out of Atlanta from NBA scouts and people that cover the NBA many who are getting their first look at this group. It isn’t loaded with one and done studs like the last two years have been. I think RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish will fight for the top spot and Naseer Little could go in the top five. There are major questions with any other prospects going significantly high a year from now. Don’t get me wrong there are a lot of good college players here that need development. Hopefully they will stick around for two or three years.
Photo courtesy of McDonald’s All-American Game