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All 24 players selected to the 46th annual McDonald’s All-American game met in Houston at the Mi3 Center to showcase their skills to 50-plus NBA scouts and media members leading into Tuesday’s game (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
As one scout said, “The real event is during the practices and scrimmages; the game on Tuesday is just an open-runs session.”
There has been plenty of talk coming in about Bronny James, from when he will make his commitment decision to how he would stack up against the best of the best in this type of an environment.
James, 18, was solid on both practice days as he made shots off the dribble and showcased his defensive capabilities. He operated well off the ball, playing alongside point guard Isaiah Collier (USC commit) and combo guard Jared McCain (Duke). They allowed him to play freely as a secondary ballhandler and create shots for himself or others. He has always competed on the defensive end, and the last two days were no different.
When I asked one NBA scout to rank the players from 1-24, he had James at No. 17. There remains considerable speculation about James’ future — at No. 35 in the Class of 2023 per the 247Sports Composite, he’s the top uncommitted prospect in the country. But James sat out Monday’s media day, so no insight was able to be gathered from what he said in that setting.
The MVP of the practice sessions was Texas commit Ron Holland. On Day 1, he went 5-of-8 from 3, was lights out defensively, and had the hottest motor. Holland separated himself this week in front of NBA scouts, and as one specifically put it, “He’s been the best player in the gym.”
Holland also spoke about Rodney Terry agreeing to a five-year contract to become Texas’ full-time coach.
“I’m really excited about that,” Holland said. “He really deserves that job … It’s a really good feeling for me because I get to stay committed to that team. Me and AJ Johnson. We get to go try to get us a national championship next year.”
Other standouts were Kentucky commits DJ Wagner Jr. and Aaron Bradshaw.
Another NBA scout said, “In my order, it was Ron Holland, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw, then a sizeable gap from the rest.”
Wagner’s speed in a straight line is uncanny, and he made multiple 3s from all over the floor. He operated well in the pick-and-roll with patience and made the right decisions.
As for Bradshaw, he was the best big man in the gym. He showcased his expanded range, strong rebounding ability and timing as a shot blocker.
As one independent scout put it, “A year from now, he will be the first big taken in the NBA Draft.”
Other notes
• 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 class. He made several jumpers as a spot-up shooter or off the dribble, which was considered a knock on his game.
• Baylor signee Ja’Kobe Walter’s on-ball defense and shot-making ability stood out the most over the two practice sessions. He separated himself on the defensive side, applying consistent ball pressure and forcing turnovers. Offensively, he is 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 tough finishes around the rim. As the primary ballhandler most of the weekend, he set his teammates up for easy baskets and commanded the offense well.
• Auburn commit Aden Holloway is one of the best playmakers in the 2023 class. He’s a crafty ballhandler who rarely turns it over, and his precision passing in the pick-and-roll is top-tier. He made scoring easy for Bradshaw and Michigan State commit Xavier Booker.