All 24 players selected for the 46th annual McDonald’s All-American Game gathered in Houston at the Mi3 Center to practice their skills in front of over 50 NBA scouts and members of the media before Tuesday’s game (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). demonstrate.
As one Boy Scout said: “The real event takes place during drills and scrimmages; Tuesday’s game is just an open runs session.”
There has been a lot of talk about Bronny James, from when he will make his signing decision to how he would stack up against the best of the best in such an environment.
James, 18, was solid on both days of practice as he made shots from dribbling and showed off his defensive skills. He acted well off the ball, playing alongside point guard Isaiah Collier (USC Commitment) and combo guard Jared McCain (Duke). They allowed him to play freely as a secondary ball handler, creating shots for himself or others. He’s always played defensively and the last two days have been no different.
When I asked an NBA scout to rank players 1-24, he had James in 17th place. There is still considerable speculation about James’ future – ranked 35th in the Class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite, he is the top Non-binding perspective in the country. But James sat out Monday’s media day, so no insights could be gleaned from what he said in those surroundings.
The MVP of the workouts was Texas commit Ron Holland. On Day 1 he went 5 of 8 of 3, was defensively unlighted and had the hottest engine. Holland split in front of NBA scouts this week, and as one put it specifically, “He was the best player in the gym.”
Holland also spoke about Rodney Terry agreeing to a five-year deal to become Texas’ full-time coach.
“I’m very happy about that,” said Holland. “He really deserves this job… It’s a really good feeling for me because I can stay committed to this team. Me and AJ Johnson. We have to try to get a national championship next year.”
Other standouts included DJ Wagner Jr. and Aaron Bradshaw from Kentucky.
Another NBA scout said, “In my order, it was Ron Holland, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw, then a sizeable gap to the rest.”
Wagner’s speed in a straight line is uncanny, and he did multiple 3’s from all over the floor. He worked well in the pick and roll with patience and made the right decisions.
Bradshaw was the best big man in the gym. He showcased his extended reach, strong rebound ability, and timing as a shot blocker.
As one independent scout put it, “In a year, he’ll be the first big take in the NBA draft.”
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• Collier’s vision as a passer is next level and he continued to show why he is the best passer in the country regardless of his class. He made multiple jumps as a spot up shooter or from dribbling, which was seen as a blow to his game.
• Baylor signing Ja’Kobe Walter stood out the most in the two training sessions for his ball defense and quick-wittedness. He set himself apart on the defensive, exerted constant ball pressure and forced turnovers. Offensively, he’s one of the best knockdown shooters in the country.
• Jared McCain is one of the best one-on-one players in the country. The Duke commit made a variety of contested shots and hard finishes around the rim. As the primary ball handler for most of the weekend, he set up his teammates for easy baskets and handled offense well.
• Auburn signs Aden Holloway is one of the best playmakers in the 2023 class. He’s a smart ball handler who rarely flips it and his pick-and-roll passing accuracy is top-notch. He made it easy for Bradshaw and Michigan State commitment Xavier Booker to score.
(Photo above: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)