McDonald’s All American Recap
My third trip to the McDonald’s All American Games was everything I expected, and plenty more. Court side views to the JamFest and practices, and access to talk to the future stars of our game. It’s everything that I dream of. Getting the chance to interview the players I’ve been watching on ESPN, YouTube and every social media site since I was in middle school is an amazing opportunity that I’ll never take for granted. But I’d like to substitute the word “Interview” for “Talk to.” When I am interviewing these basketball phenoms I try to stay away from the questions they get nearly every day, I talk about the stuff they want to talk about, so I truly get to know them off the court. On the court they are stars, but off the court they are normal kids. Take away the thousands and sometimes millions of social media followers, these kids enjoy playing Fortnite and NBA2K, eating Chicken Alfredo and listening to Lil Uzi Vert and Migos. Just like the rest of us. This experience is always very eye-opening for me, because of their basketball skills, people tend to lose sight they are still 18 year-olds that all would describe themselves as “Goofy.” Make no mistake, these guys are not regular 18 year-olds, their practices are lined with media and NBA scouts waiting to critique their every move, but they are more like the rest of us than you would think.
Cam Reddish (Duke)
Offense comes way too easy for the five star Duke commit, and there’s no other way to say it. Standing at 6’9” with the ability to elevate and score over anybody on the court from all three levels, Reddish is the prototypical wing in today’s NBA. He has an elite feel for the game and can beat you in so many ways. But, he did tell me his game on the sticks isn’t exactly like his game on the court. He admitted that he isn’t very good at Fortnite (A video game that has taken over most teens all over the country) and that he teams up with future teammate Tre Jones on the game. Jones took Twitter to confirm the fact that Reddish does in fact “Struggle” when they play together. (Insert tweet link)
Romeo Langford (Undecided)
Everything about Romeo Langford is smooth, his name is smooth and his game is smooth. Regarded as the number one shooting guard in the country, Langford always has high expectations next to his name, but he did not disappoint. During the practice he showed off his ability to create and make difficult shots off the dribble. During the JamFest he was able to show off his range, knocking down the 4-pointer on his first try. Later in the press conference he told the media he activated his “Deep Range Deadeye badge” (A badge given to players in NBA2K who have exceptional shooting range). The rest of the media probably thought he was speaking a different language, but the other players on the podium and I understood his joke and laughed.
Darius Garland (Vanderbilt)
One trait that really sticks out to me about Darius Garland is how much pride he takes in being a point guard. He has an unbelievable feel for the game and sees everything on the floor. Garland is able to change speeds very efficiently, which is a huge reason why he is able to create for himself and his teammates so easily. He told me he models his game after Steph Curry, but he didn’t mean his sharpshooting abilities. Do not confuse this as a jab to Garland’s three point shooting because everyone knows he is more than a capable three point shooter. But, the Curry I see in him is how comfortable he is with the ball, how he mastered the art of deception, and that his biggest asset is that he always knows everything happening on the court. Garland just won his fourth state championship, in four years. He is a certified winner and if someone is going to lead the turnaround of this Vanderbilt program, it’s going to be Darius Garland.
Zion Williamson (Duke)
I can officially tell anyone on the “Zion can only dunk” train that they need to get off immediately, because that take will not last for long. I was really impressed with how active Williamson was on the glass, he is a relentless offensive rebounder that can clearly play above the rim with just about anyone. He also has a very underrated basketball IQ and feel for the game that will become more respected as people watch him more closely. He also told me that if there was one word that his McDonald’s teammates would use to describe him it would be “Swole.” Williamson’s size and athleticism will make him a very hard guard at the next level, as he is built like a linebacker but can jump like Vince Carter.
Jahvon Quinerly (Villanova)
Since he is a part of JellyFam, and is one of the creators of the Jelly itself, Quinerly was a hot commodity. Quinerly has a signature swagger about his game that includes flashy passes, wicked handles, draining threes and of course crafty finishes around the rim. He told me that he models his game after Kyrie and within five minutes of watching Quinerly play you can definitely see where he’s coming from. He is a part of a very good Villanova recruiting class that includes two other top 50 players in Cole Swider and Brandon Slater that should be able to contribute immediately.
Quentin Grimes (Kansas)
With Svi Mykhailiuk and Devonte Graham graduating, and the possibility of Malik Newman entering the draft, Grimes will have big shoes to fill, but I think he’s more than ready for it. He showcased his athleticism in the dunk contest and during the practices along with his ability to score it at all three levels. Grimes has a smooth jumper with good elevation, and looked good alongside Devon Dotson who is also committed to Kansas.
Tre Jones (Duke)
If next years Duke team is a car, I can assure you that Tre Jones will be the oil. He is a true point guard that is extremely efficient and effective off the dribble, with the ability to get into the lane and create for himself and his teammates. Jones does a great job of facilitating without turning the ball over, he never tries to do too much with the ball. He told me it’s very cool to be around NBA players like Tyus Jones (his older brother) and Jimmy Butler. He mentioned that he learns a lot from them as pros but also wants everyone to know they are “down to earth people just like the rest of us.”
Jalen Smith (Maryland)
The DMV native was arguably the highest riser in the class of 2018, he shot into the top 20 as a 5 star prospect after a breakout summer with Team Takeover. He has tons of potential with his size, length and coordination but also has a great touch around the basket and is a very capable three point shooter. Smith should see a lot of minutes as a freshman and should make a big impact in College Park.
Keldon Johnson (Kentucky)
If your playing pick up ball, Keldon Johnson is the guy you want on your team. One, because he is a high flying highlight reel waiting to happen, with a mid range game that is constantly improving. And two, you don’t want to play against him. He takes a lot of pride on the defensive end and it showed in the All-Star game when he took a crucial charge and locked down RJ Barrett on the final possession. Johnson leaves it all out on the court and Kentucky fans will fall in love with that.
Coby White (North Carolina)
On the court you’ll never miss Coby White, his signature Afro sets him apart at first sight, but his ability to get a bucket sets him apart from almost every guard in high school basketball. White recently became the leading scorer in the history of North Carolina, the entire state. He finished his career with over 3,300 points and told me a lot of those buckets came off the dribble. He added he loves shooting off the dribble and if he sees the defender bite, he uses a killer hesitation to get into the lane. White is one of the best shot makers in his class, and will be heavily relied on next year with the departure of Joel Berry.
Darius Bazley (Syracuse)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more naturally-fitting Syracuse prospect than Darius Bazley. He is listed at 6’9” and is very lengthy and will fit perfectly on the bottom of Jim Boeheim’s signature 2-3 zone. Bazley is a do it all player that is very unselfish. He uses his athleticism to get to the basket and is extremely active around the rim, he also showed off his three point shot that is getting more consistent by the day. UPDATE: Was written before he de-committed from Syracuse and signed to the G-League.
Immanuel Quickley (Kentucky)
Another DMV representative showcased his entire arsenal this week. He got to show off his three point shot in the three point contest during Monday night’s JamFest where he was co-champion with Cam Reddish. During the practices he showed his ability to get to the rim with ease and his patience in the paint. Quickley is more than capable of scoring but always has his teammates in mind when drawing the extra defender.
Overall, the McDonald’s All American Games were a great experience, the incoming freshman class goes very deep and will surprise a lot of people come next college basketball season. Check out @jakeinthepaint on twitter for more content.
Next stop, San Antonio and the Final Four so stay tuned.