Video: Highlights from 2017 McDonald's All American game
Watch sights, sounds and top plays from one of high school basketball's premier events.In the opening minute,
Collin Sexton of
Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.) made a steal along the sideline and whipped a pass through his legs to
Wendell Carter Jr. of
Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) for a slam dunk.
"I wanted to give the fans their money's worth," Sexton told the national television audience on ESPN.
And so the stylish, end-to-end action began at the 40th McDonald's All American Game at Chicago's United Center on Wednesday.
In a game that featured more than 30 dunks and many spectacular passes, it was a pair of defensive plays in the final five seconds that proved decisive as the West defeated the East 109-107.
West's Michael Porter Jr. scores two of his 17 points.
Photo by Quinn Harris
Sexton went in for what looked to be a game-tying floater with 5.7 seconds left, but
Brandon McCoy, a 6-foot-11 center from
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), knocked it away. It looked like it could have been goaltending.
In the final two seconds,
Mohamed Bamba of
Westtown (Pa.) and Carter each had contested chances in the paint for the East but both missed and the West survived, tying the series at 20 wins apiece.
"In a lot of all-star games guys just play around," said
Michael Porter Jr., voted the game's MVP. He and Bamba scored 17 points to lead their respective teams. "This one wasn't easy. The last couple minutes were rough."
As far as playing in the game itself, Porter, who averaged over 35 points per game for the nation's No. 1 team
Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.) said: "I've been waiting around for this game my whole life. It was a dream come true."
Porter was 6-of-13 from the field and had four offensive rebounds. The West held a 63-46 edge on the boards, which explains why it won despite shooting just 37 percent from the floor (37 of 99). The East made 48 of 87 shots.
In addition to his big block, McCoy had 13 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three other blocks.
Jaylen Hands of
Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) added 14 points and
Troy Brown Jr. of
Centennial (Las Vegas) contributed 12.
For the East, Sexton, who won Monday's slam dunk contest, ran the show and had a game-high seven assists, many of the spectacular variety, to go along with eight points.
Kevin Knox of
Tampa Catholic (Fla.) contributed 15 points and
Mitchell Robinson of
Chalmette (La.) added 14 points.
The West has now won two in a row and five of the last six McDonald's All American Games.
Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale was named the game's MVP.
Photos by Quinn Harris
East forward Kevin Knox of Tampa Catholic finishes a dunk.
