Annual showcase doesn't lack for intrigue as the top prospects take flight Wednesday in Atlanta.
Forty-eight of the top high school basketball prospects in the country will compete Wednesday in Atlanta in the McDonald's All-American games.
The games will take place at State Farm Arena with the 18th annual girls game starting at 5 p.m. (Eastern time), followed by a 7 p.m. tip-off for the 42nd edition of the boys game. Both contests will be televised live on ESPN.
Here are 10 things to watch heading Wednesday's action.
Most college basketball fans will have their eyes on five uncommitted 5-star standouts, including four on the East:
Each of these prospects will make a major impact at the next level ... wherever they decide to play.
Watford led Mountain Brook to three consecutive state titles. McDaniels guided Federal Way to a 107-9 mark over his four-year career. Anthony averaged a triple-double this season. Achiuwa continued his development into an elite prospect for the third-ranked Eagles. Hurt averaged more than 37 points and 12 rebounds per contest this season.
Precious Achiuwa, one of five uncommitted 5-star players, put on a show in Monday's POWERADE Jam Fest.
Courtesy photo
Francesca Belibi, the 6-foot-1 Stanford-bound dunking machine from
Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.), already set Atlanta ablaze by becoming the second female to win the dunk contest in Monday's POWERADE Jam Fest at Wheeler High School. With a 30-inch vertical jump, long frame and big hands — measured larger than NBA All-Star Anthony Davis — Belibi won Monday with four dunks that all received perfect scores, including an opening reverse jam that brought the house down.
"It's a really big honor," she told reporters. "I never thought I'd be in this position. ... I've definitely grown as a jumper. We started practicing the off-the-backboard dunk Sunday so I knew if she put it in the right spot I could get it. It just feels great to get the win."
She's done it regularly during games for Regis Jesuit, which always draws social media attention. If she does it on the biggest stage for the West squad Wednesday, it will no doubt go viral. By the way, Belibi isn't just a dunk show, averaging 21.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.7 blocks this season for the Raiders.
Francesca Belibi delivers one of her four perfect dunks on Monday.
Courtesy photo
Villanova, Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Arizona fans all will have added reason to view as each program boasts two players in the star-studded game.
4. Big Ten vs. Big 12
If the Big Ten doesn't receive another commitment this recruiting cycle,
member schools will have combined to sign just four McDonald's
All-Americans who have gone on to play in the conference over the last three years. The Big Ten seems unfazed though going 7-1 in the first round of the
NCAA tournament this year and advancing three teams to the Sweet
16.
After failing to win the Big 12 regular season title for the first time in 14 years, the Kansas Jayhawks are set to miss out on signing a McDonald's All-American for the first time since 2011. Is this cause for concern for the college basketball blue blood?
5. Who is the top prospect?
While each has flaws, the seven all can make an argument for the top player in the class. Although Carey won't have a chance to showcase his abilities, the event features 17 of the top 20 prospects in the senior class, according to
247sports.
6. How many will Brunelle score?
Samantha Brunelle, the 6-2 Notre Dame-bound forward from
Monroe (Stanardsville, Va.), dominated Monday's 3-point contest at the Powerade Jam Fest by scoring 22 points in one round. She not only won the girls competition, but she bettered boys winner Anthony.
Rated the country's No. 4 player overall in the
ESPN 2019 recruiting rankings, Brunelle came back this season from an injury to average 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds to finish well over 2,200 career points and 1,200 career rebounds.
In a wide-open, up-and-down affair that Wednesday's game promises to be, don't be surprised if Brunelle gets plenty of good looks.
Samantha Brunelle had the highest point total, boy or girl, in Monday's 3-point contest.
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Georgia is expecting big things from Edwards, as the talented guard is the highest ranked prospect to commit to the Bulldogs in school history. Jackson-Davis will look to build on an up-and-down year for Indiana. Versatile big man
Isaiah Mobley of
Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) will bolster the frontcourt at USC, while Mannion and Green are expected blossom a star-studded backcourt at Arizona. Wiseman will likely dominate the American Athletic Conference at Memphis, and Tshiebwe will provide a much-needed post presence for West Virginia.
8. Against the grain
The McDonald's organizers have switched loyalties up for years, placing players from the East to play on the West, and vice versa. It made sense to even up the squads. But on Wednesday, Archbishop Mitty coach Sue Phillips will lead the East and coach against her own star player Jones, the No. 1 recruit and leader of the West squad.
How does Phillips plan to stop the 6-1 Jones, who last week was named the Naismith Award winner as top player the country? "We have some ideas, but for sure it will be different," Phillips said. "Whatever they want to do, we're game."
Mitty assistants Joe Guerra and Tami Monson join Phillips in trying to figure out to slow Jones, who averaged 26.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.8 blocks a game this season for the 25-3 Monarchs.
9. SEC leads the way with six McDonald's All-Americans
The SEC, which has long made the argument as the toughest football conference in the country, continues to strengthen its basketball prowess. As previously mentioned, Kentucky and Florida each will feature two McDonald's All-Americans, while Edwards joins Georgia and
Josiah James of
Porter-Gaud (Charleston, S.C.) heads to a program on the rise in Tennessee.
SEC teams have had plenty of success in March Madness this year, going a combined 9-3 in the NCAA Tournament thus far, with four teams remaining in the Sweet 16. The recent success of the conference puts it firmly in the conversation for the second-best basketball conference in America.
10. Will the East even the score?
After 41 McDonald's All-American boys games, only one win separates the East and West. Following three straight victories, including last year's 131-128 thriller, the West holds a 21-20 lead in the series which dates to 1978, when the West prevailed 94-86 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
Among the many famous MVPs of the game are Alonzo Mourning (1988), Shaquille O'Neal (1989), Chris Webber (1991), Kevin Garnett (1995) and LeBron James (2003). The last three games have been decided by a total of 12 points.
Last year was the third highest point total between two teams (259), trailing only West wins in 1999 (141-128, 269) and 2000 (146-120, 266). The 141 in 1999 was the most points any team has scored in the All-Star game's history. Game MVP Jonathan Bender had 31 points to break Michael Jordan's single-game scoring record of 30, a mark that still stands today.
Francesca Belibi was the second girl to win the POWERADE Jam Fest slam dunk contest.
Courtesy photo
