2021 McDonald All-Americans

McDonald’s announced the nominees for its 2021 All-American Game with twelve players from across the state of Washington making the list. While [player_tooltip player_id="611182" first="Paolo" last="Banchero"], Nolan Hickman, and [player_tooltip player_id="611188" first="Jackson" last="Grant"] give Washington three McDonald All-Americans in the same year, this is the third time this has happened since 2005. Here is a quick rundown of the Nominees. [player_tooltip player_id="711297" first="Julian" last="Agosto"] Nathan Hale High School- Agosto is a lightning-quick point guard. His elite athleticism and pitbull mentality more than make up for him being slightly undersized at 5’11”. Scouts coming to see him can expect to see hard drives to the basket, smooth pull-up jumpers, solid playmaking, and an elite on-ball defender who picks up 94 feet. [player_tooltip player_id="611182" first="Paolo" last="Banchero"] O’Dea High School- A consensus top-three player in his class and nominee for the Naismith Player of the Year Award, Paolo has been dominating at O’Dea and on the EYBL circuit for years now. Perhaps best described as a “power guard”, his game compares favorably to Lamar Odom, but with more of an eye for scoring. A sturdy but athletic 6’10” body, the ability to score at all three levels, elite ball-handling, and playmaking at his size, along with his apparently high basketball IQ, make him perhaps the most NBA-ready prospect in the nation. [player_tooltip player_id="711278" first="John" last="Christofilis"] O’Dea High School- Christofilis is the state’s resident deadeye shooter. The 6’6” shooting guard might be the best shooter in high school basketball. His elite shooting touch is bolstered by solid ball-handling skills that make him more than just a catch-and-shoot threat on the offensive end. His long arms and solid athleticism make him a more than capable defender against four different positions. Look for the Creighton commit and his O’Dea teammate, Banchero, to make another run at the state title. [player_tooltip player_id="611203" first="Leo" last="DeBruhl"] Seattle Academy- The 6’2” Seattle Academy senior has that mixture of long-range shooting and playmaking that coaches at all levels of basketball want their point guard to have. Think Damian Lillard, Tre Young, Steph Curry etc. Debruhl’s immense offensive skill keeps constant pressure on the opposing team’s defense. Any deficiencies on the defensive end are overshadowed by his effort and apparent leadership. Uncommitted at this point, look for Debruhl to make big waves his senior year as he works to earn high-profile scholarship offers. [player_tooltip player_id="611190" first="Tyson" last="Degenhart"] Mt. Spokane High School- The 6’8” Boise State commit and do-it-all forward has been achieving under the radar success for years at Mt. Spokane High School. A decade or two ago, Tyson may have been labeled a “tweener”, his game teetering somewhere between the small and power forward positions. In 2021, Degenhart is an ideal power forward. His length and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions, while his mixture of slashing and skill on the offensive end allows him to be an effective offensive player who does not need plays called for him to score. [player_tooltip player_id="611188" first="Jackson" last="Grant"] Olympia High School- The Washington commit is a fleet-footed 6’9” center whose skill and high motor combine to make an intriguing modern big man. Grant is lanky in the best way possible and he uses his unique frame to control the paint on both ends. Watching his tape, he reminds you a bit of Karl Anthony-Towns, a perimeter-oriented big man who can dominate inside when he needs to. [player_tooltip player_id="843758" first="Logan" last="Kinloch"] West Valley High School- Kinloch is that classic skilled slasher left-handed combo guard we all hate to play against. He has a unique cadence to his game that allows him to get to his spots and score with ease whether he has the ball in his hand or is working off-ball screens. His aggressive nature keeps the other team’s defense on their heels. Currently uncommitted, mid-majors looking for an offensive boost should watch out for Kinloch this season. [player_tooltip player_id="843727" first="Omari" last="Maulana"] Life Christian Academy- The 6’2” point guard has been performing at a high level for Life Christian academy since his freshman year. The recent BIOLA commit has accomplished everything a player can in high school basketball. Expect him to add to his list of accomplishments this year as he attempts to lead his relatively young Life Christian Academy team to another state championship game. [player_tooltip player_id="843715" first="Shane" last="Nowell"] Eastside Catholic High School- The Arizona Commit is a LONG 6’6” Shooting Guard with remarkable strength and athleticism. Nowell’s game is very similar to his brother’s, using his size, athleticism, and savvy to consistently get into the paint and score at the rim. He uses the same attributes to be an elite defender, constantly hawking passing lanes. Nowell has a frame that he can add muscle to and is expected to be a day one contributor when he arrives at Arizona next season. [player_tooltip player_id="843719" first="Noah" last="Pepper"] Selah High School- [player_tooltip player_id="843719" first="Noah" last="Pepper"] is Washington’s version of Charles Barkley. While he doesn’t have the elite athleticism that made Barkley a hall of fame basketball player, he does have every other aspect of Chuck’s game. Despite his size, Pepper is an elite rebounder, using strength and positioning to dominate the glass. He can rebound, go coast-to-coast, and score at any level he wants to. Pepper is perhaps Washington’s most notorious non-committed player due to his performance consistently outpacing the quality of scholarship offers he has received. [player_tooltip player_id="611183" first="Kaden" last="Perry"] Battle Ground High School- Perry is a 6’9” true power forward with a game very similar to John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks. He uses his size, athleticism, and soft hands to finish above the rim with ease and is skilled enough to stretch the defense with his shooting. A combination of effort and timing makes him a relentless rim protector. Like many former Zags who went on to play in the NBA, Perry has both a high floor and ceiling who is already a complete player with room to grow even more. [player_tooltip player_id="711279" first="Kobe" last="Young"] Chiawana High School- Young is a prototypical modern 3&D player that every team needs to be successful. He scores effortlessly off the ball but can also put it on the floor to create his own shot. On the defensive end, he’s the guy that guards the other team’s best player and shuts them down for the night, using his length and athleticism to stifle the opposing offensive player. Young is also a division I football prospect. Although currently uncommitted, expect to see mid-major offers for both sports come in for Young this spring.