2019 MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN GAME IS HISTORY, BUT TOP PLAYER HONORS IN THE CLASS OF 2019 IS STILL VERY MUCH UP FOR GRABS

More often not in recent years the top individual performances in the McDonald's All-American Game have gone a long way toward determining or reinforcing exactly who should be the #1-ranked player nationally their respective classes.  If you will recall, a year ago 6'7 R.J. Barrett from Montverde (Academy) FL finished with 26 points, three rebounds, 10-14 field goals, 1-2 3-pointers, and 5-5 free throws and was arguably the best player in the game.  And the same also can be said about 6'9 Michael Porter from Seattle (Nathan Hale) WA, who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and 6-13 field goals and took home game MVP honors two years ago, and 6'6 Josh Jackson from Napa (Prolific Prep) CA, who had 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, 9-11 field goals, and 1-2 free throws and was named co-MVP in the game three years ago.  Our #1-ranked player - 6'9 Ben Simmons from Montverde (Academy) FL - only scored seven points in the game four years ago.  However, he was dominant on the boards with 10 rebounds and 6'9 Cheick Diallo from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY left little room for doubt about who our #2-ranked player should be, as he played like a man possessed en route to finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8-14 field goals in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game.

We did not think that 6'9 Jahlil Okafor from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL always played with the zest and zeal necessary to be the 1-ranked player nationally in the Class of 2014.  However, he did show why some people in our business had him ranked as the top player in the class by finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds and taking with home co-MVP honors in the game five years ago  And going back even further, 6'9 Aaron Gordon from San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) CA played his way into our top four nationally, behind Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, and Julius Randle, with a 24-point/eight rebound performance back in the 2013 game, 6'5 Shabazz Muhammad from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV and 6'9 Michael Gilchrist from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ dominated in the game back in 2012 and 2011, and 6'9 Jared Sullinger from Columbus (Northland) OH and 6'6 Harrison Barnes from Ames (H.S.) IA shared game MVP honors back in 2010.

Unfortunately, as we have alluded to before, the Class of 2019 is the class where nobody wants to step up and claim the #1-spot on a consistent basis.  And, to add insult to injury, 6'10 Vernon Carey from Ft. Lauderdale (University School) FL, who, along with 6'3 Cole Anthony from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and 6'9 Isaiah Stewart from La Porte (La Lumiere School) IN, is one of our top three ranked players nationally in the Class of 2019, didn't even play in this year's game due to the fact that he's been sidelined for most of the last month with a severe ankle sprain.  Anthony did manage to take home game MVP honors in the 2019 McDonald's  All-American Game, which was held last night in Atlanta, GA, with 14 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, 7-11 field goals, and 0-3 3-pointers and Stewart chipped in 16 points, five rebounds, and 8-11 field goals.  But neither one of them really was a dominate force nor did they really separate themselves apart from all of rest of the top players in the game.  And, of course, there was 7'0 James Wiseman from Memphis (East) TN, who chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, 4-6 field goals, and 0-2 3-pointers.  If you will recall, he's the #1-ranked player nationally by ESPN, but he also is the ultimate tease, as he spends way too much time out on the perimeter, is not a tough customer, more often than not the team for which he plays does not live up to expectations, and most of the time he leaves you wanting a lot more.

On the other hand, the leading scorer in the game with 22 points and the leading rebounder for his team with nine boards was 6'9 Precious Achuwa from Montverde (Academy) FL.  He also had 10-20 field goals, 1-4 3-poitners, and 1-3 free throws, plus he has the size, skills, athleticism, versatility, and natural talent necessary to be ranked #6 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  However, he too tends to be a feast or famine guy and, when things aren't going well, he also has a tendency to take bad shots, be wild and out-of-control, and disappear for long stretches at a time.  We also thought 6'5 Scottie Lewis from Tinton Falls (Ranney School) NJ, who finished with 10 points, two assists, four steals, and 4-7 field goals, and 6'8 Oscar Tshiebwe from Hermitage (Kennedy Catholic) PA, who finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 5-7 field goals, were two of the best players in the game.  If you will recall, we have Lewis ranked #5 nationally in the senior class and he also proved to be one of the best athletes and defensively players in the game, as he made a living picking his man's pocket and bringing the house down with strong finishes at the other end.  Tsbiebwe checks in at #8 nationally in the senior class and he's match-up problem in the post with his strength, athleticism, and high energy level and ability to finish strong in the post and aggressiveness on the boards.

We also thought 6'2 Tyrese Maxey from Garland (South Garland) TX, who finished with 13 points, 5-10 field goals, and 3-6 3-pointers, was one of the unsung heroes in the game.  He also was arguably one of the guys who helped himself the most (he's currently ranked #19 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP), as he never seemed to be out-of-control, impressed us with his skills and athleticism, and really was the only guy who had a hot hand from behind the arc.  And, of course, there was 6'8 Jeremiah Earl-Robinson from Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL, who simply picked up where he left off when we saw him on numerous occasions this past winter, as he finished 13 points, four rebounds, 5-9 field goals, 1-2 3-pointers, and 2-2 free throws this time around.  If Earl-Robinson is not a top 10-ranked player nationally in the senior class, he should be at least 11 or 12 and, although, he's more of a four/tree than a three/four, he's got the skills, versatility, and athleticism necessary to play both inside and outside.  We also thought 6'4 Anthony Edwards from Atlanta (Holy Spirit) GA and 6'10 Trendon Watford from Mountain Brook (H.S.) GA both lived up to expectations.  The former had 12 points, 5-8 field goals, and 1-2 3-pointers and was a match-up problem with his combination of strength and athleticism when he attacked the basket.  The latter impressed us with his length and athleticism and he did a little bit of everything en route to 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, 4-6 field goals, 0-1 3-pointers, and 2-2 free throws.

Also scoring in double-digits and eliminating any doubt about whether they are good enough to be in the game were 6'6 Wendell Moore from Concord (Cannon School) NC and 6'7 Samuel Williamson from Rockwall (H.S.) TX..  Moore doesn't have a true position and he's more of a slasher than a shooter, but it's hard to argue with the way he attacks the basket and he did finish with 13 points, two assists, two steals, 5-5 field goals, and 1-1 3-pointers.  Williamson not only has a good combination of length, athleticism, and skills, but he has good ball handling and passing skills for somebody his size and is capable of scoring in a variety of ways, as is evident by the fact that he finished with 11 points, 4-7 field goals, 1-1 3-pointers, and 2-2 free throws.  In sharp contrast, it was a tough night for guys like 6'9 Armando Bacot from Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL, 6'7 Khalil Whitney from Roselle (Catholic) NJ, and 6'5 Bryan Antoine from Trinton Falls (Ranney School) NJ, who are ranked #7, #10, and #11 nationally in the senior class respectively by the HOOP SCOOP.  Bacot only had four points, four rebounds, and 2-7 field goals.  Whitney only two points, one rebound, and 1-5 field goals.  And Antoine had only two points, 1-4 field goals, and 0-2 3-pointers.  Also falling into the category is 6'2 Nico Mannion from Phoenix (Pinnacle) AZ, who finished with eight points, two assists, 3-8 field goals, and 1-3 3-pointers, but didn't have size and the strength necessary to match up against 6'3 Cole Anthony from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA.

We also are still trying to figure out what all of the hype is about with regard to 6'10 Jaden McDaniel from Federal Way (H.S.) WA, who finished with seven points, two rebounds, 3-4 field goals, and 1-2 3-poiinters and did not even come close to resembling his top five nationally ranking by some in our business.   And it was pretty much status quo for guys like 6'5 Josh Green from Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL, 6'9 Matthew Hurt from Rochester (John Marshall) MN, 6'9 Trayce Jackson-Davis from Greenwood (Center Grove) IN, 6'9 Isaiah Mobley from Temecula (Rancho Christian) CA, 6'4 Tre Mann from The Villages (Villages Charter Christian) FL, who finished with eight, eight, seven, five, and five points respectively,  As for 6'6 Josiah Jones from Charleston )Porter-Gaud) SC, we thought he was a borderline choice for the game to begin with and he reinforced this belief with a stat line that included zero points, two rebounds, one assist, four turnovers, 0-3 field goals, and 0-1 3-pointers.  We also don't want to forget to mention that the East Squad featured the likes of Cole Anthony, Isaiah Stewart, Precious Achiuwa, Scottie Lewis, and Anthony Edwards and, as a result, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that they shot 59.3% from the field compared to only 45.5% from the field for the West Squad and emerged with a 115-100 victory.