The 24 players selected for the 46th annual McDonald’s All-American Game came together in Houston at the Mi3 Center to showcase their skills to more than 50 nba scouts and members of the media before Tuesday’s game (9 pm ET, ESPN).
As one scout put it: “The real event is during practices and scrimmages; Tuesday’s game is just an open session.”
There’s been a lot of talk about Bronny James, from when he’ll make the decision to get engaged to how he’d stack up against the best of the best in this kind of setting.
The 18-year-old James was solid over the two days of practice as he took shots from the dribble and showed off his defensive capabilities. He operated well off the ball, playing alongside point guard Isaiah Collier (USC commit) and combine guard Jared McCain (Duke). They allowed him to play freely as a secondary ball handler and create shots for himself or others. He has always competed on the defensive end, and the last two days were no different.
When I asked an NBA scout to rank the players from 1 to 24, he had James ranked 17th. Considerable speculation remains about James’ future: Ranked 35th in the Class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite , is the best uncommitted. perspective in the country. But James didn’t participate in Monday’s media day, so you couldn’t get a sense of what he said in that setting.
The MVP of the practice sessions was Texas commit Ron Holland. On Day 1, he was 5-for-8 from 3, was off defensively and had the hottest engine. Holland parted ways this week in front of NBA scouts, and as one specifically put it: “He’s been the best player in the gym.”
Holland also discussed Rodney Terry’s deal to a five-year deal to become Texas’ full-time coach.
“I’m very excited about it,” Holland said. “He really deserves that job… It’s a really good feeling for me because I get to stay committed to that team. Me and AJ Johnson. We have to try to get a national championship next year.”
Other highlights were Kentucky engages DJ Wagner Jr. and Aaron Bradshaw.
Another NBA scout said: “In my order, there was Ron Holland, DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw, then a considerable distance from the rest.”
Wagner’s speed in a straight line is amazing, and he made multiple 3-pointers all over the court. He operated the pick-and-roll well with patience and made the right calls.
As for Bradshaw, he was the best big man in the gym. He showcased his extended range, strong rebounding ability and his timing as a shot blocker.
As one independent scout put it: “A year from now, he’ll be the first major player in the NBA Draft.”
other notes
• Collier’s vision as a passer is next level, and he continued to show why he’s the best passer in the country regardless of class. He took several jumpers as a shooter from above or off the dribble, which was considered a knock on his game.
• Baylor signee Ja’Kobe Walter’s on-the-ball defense and shooting ability came to the fore in the two practice sessions. He spread out on the defensive end, applying constant ball pressure and forcing turnovers. Offensively, he is one of the best takedown shooters in the country.
• Jared McCain is one of the best one-on-one players in the country. Duke’s commitment made for a variety of contested shots and tough finishes around the rim. As the primary ball handler for most of the weekend, he set up his teammates for easy baskets and dominated the offense well.
• Auburn Commitment Aden Holloway is one of the top playmakers in the class of 2023. He’s a shrewd ball handler who rarely turns around, and his passing accuracy on the pick-and-roll is top-notch . He made scoring easy for Bradshaw and michigan state commit Xavier Booker.
(Top photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
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