5 Takeaways: McDonald’s All-American Game

The McDonald's All-American Game was held on Tuesday night.  This is the premier all-star game for the best high school seniors in the country.  It was a super competitive game throughout with a ton of quality performances while players brought it on both ends in front of NBA scouts who saw them play all week.  In the end the West topped East 105-92 in a great contest.  Here we look at the players in 5 Takeaways: McDonald's All-American Game!

Big 3 Continue Race for #1 in 2026 NBA Draft on Big Stage

The race for the top pick in the 2026 draft officially began a long time ago, but this is a good check point in that race.  BYU commit AJ Dybantsa, Kansas commit Darryn Peterson, and Duke commit Cameron Boozer would all be the number one pick in most years.  They will be competing with each other all year long in college for that next season.  Starting with he favorite in Dybantsa he has about everything you could ask for in a prototype wing for the next level.  At 6'9” the Utah Prep standout is a long and super athletic small forward that is an explosive scorer off the bounce.  He gets to the rim at will.  Long strides and great finishing ability on dunks and layups.  Can take it coast to coast covering so much ground.  Mixed in turn around jumpers and baseline spins on post ups.  Advanced scorer!  Next step is becoming more consistent with the long ball, but when he gets that it is over!  He had 17 points (7-12 FG) and 5 rebounds.  Peterson took home co-MVP honors off the game as he took over in the fourth quarter.  The future Jayhawk is a combo guard with strength, athleticism, and feel.  Broad shouldered guard reminds me so much of Donovan Mitchell.  He plays with great pace and can attack the rim with authority, make sound reads out in ball screen situations as a passer, and can knock down shots at a high clip.  All while being a top level defender.  He had 18 points (7-14) (1-6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.  The other co-MVP was Boozer.  The big man who is headed to Duke like his father Carlos Boozer will be an impact player from day one in Durham.  He has a college ready body and game being able to score in the paint, draw fouls at a really high level, and put it on the deck finishing with either hand at the rack.  Also is a good passer and the best rebounder in the class.  Went for 16 points (6-12 FG) and 12 boards.

Upside Big Men Stock Continue to Rise

Right behind those three are a pair of big men that have personnel at the next level very intrigued.  Top uncommitted prospect Nate Ament is a four man that is so skilled.  He can pour in threes with feathery touch out to beyond the arc on a regular basis.  Also has good handles being able to win off the bounce.  The physical profile is going to be very compelling to teams at the NBA level.  Ament finished with 12 points (3-6 FG) (2-2 3 PT).  Houston bound Chris Cenac showed a ton of potential as a 6'10” center.  Good frame and rebounds very well in his area.  Was particularly effective on the offensive glass.  Went to his right handed hook and finished out of the pick and roll while also draining a three.  This is what the modern NBA fives look like.  He had 11 points (5-9 FG) and 7 rebounds.  Washington commit Nikola Bundalo was excellent in this contest with his quickness on the offensive glass as the mobile 6'10” post was all over second chance points along with rim running as well as anyone as he had 12 points (6-10 FG) and 6 rebounds (all offensive).  North Carolina commit Caleb Wilson has a ton of long term potential as a switchable defender being able to check multiple spots along with showing athleticism around the hoop.  Bit of a quiet game overall with 3 points (0-4 FG) and 6 rebounds.

Top Combo Guards Show They Can Score and Pass

The three best combos in my eyes all showed they can both dish and get buckets at the same time in this game.  Arkansas bound Darius Acuff is a well built guard that is one of the premier scorers in the class.  He still got his despite struggling shooting from deep, but I came away impressed with how willing he was to find teammates in this setting.  He had 12 points (4-14 FG) (1-8 3PT) and 4 dimes.  Same can be said of Louisville signee Mikel Brown Jr.  The wiry bucket getter from Florida is electric with the rock in his hands as a scorer off the bounce getting to the rim.  Liked how he found teammates especially when pushing ahead in transition.  Went for 5 points (2-4 FG) and 5 dimes in the game.  Cayden Boozer is also headed to Duke and he was good at mixing it up as well.  Got in the lane for scores and pull up jumpers while finding his teammates for quality looks in the half court.  Finished with 6 points (3-4 FG), 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Flame Throwers on the Wings

Ton of great scorers in this class.  Arkansas bound Meleek Thomas showed a spurt of it in the first half as the long and lanky shooting guard poured in a pull up three along with a cut for a basket while having an overall quiet evening with 6 points (2-5 FG) and 4 rebounds.  Alijah Arenas is an effortless scorer that reclassified up to attend USC next season.  Tough shot maker that made a pair of threes on his way to 11 points (4-9 FG).  Both need to continue to refine their shot selection.  Cincinnati commit Shon Abaev is a favorite of mine as a silky smooth lefty that has a feathery shot from three and mid-range as he poured them in throughout the game going for 8 points (3-4 FG) (2-3 3 PT).   High risk high reward passer which led to some turnovers in this one. Future Houston shooting guard Isiah Harwell showed out starting the second half with a monster run burying three after three after three.  Thick wing that is a lights out shooter netting 16 points (6-9 FG) (4-7 3PT) and grabbing 4 rebounds.

Moreno and Yessoufou Finish Off Strong Week in Game

Between the game and scrimmage the two prospects that have the most helium coming out of this game are Kentucky commit center Malachi Moreno and Baylor bound small forward Tounde Yessoufou.  Moreno came late after leading his Great Crossing squad to a state championship in Kentucky.  The 6'10” center is a big time rebounder with his length and improved aggressiveness in that area on both ends including getting second chance points.  He can protect the rim with his length and timing.  Also has skill showed on a nice left handed finish along with draining a three.  Going to for sure be in the one and done discussion after this week which concluded with 9 points (4-5 FG), 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  Same can be said of Yessoufou.  He is the all time leading scorer in California high school basketball history and offense might be his second best end of the floor.  Built like a tank the 6'5” small forward is an elite defender that gets steals and blocks on a regular basis and has lockdown potential on that end of the floor.  The best defender in this game by far.  Snatches rebounds both offensively and defensively.  Explosive slasher that can get to the rim for finishes and drained a turnaround jumper.  Didn't see much of a jumper, but if he gets that going we could be looking at a lottery pick.  Also love the fit of him at Baylor with the way that program is built around toughness, defense, and competitiveness.  He brings all of that!  In this contest he had 9 points (4-13 FG) (0-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals.