Future SEC players in McDonald’s All-American Game
By Matt Green
Every year basketball’s future superstars gather for the McDonald’s All-American game.
This year the McDonald’s All-American Game is Wednesday at 7:00 EST on ESPN at the United Center in Chicago.
Every year this game is who’s-who of future NBA superstars and nearly every all-time great basketball player played in this game before the went on to stardom.
From Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to Kevin Garnett and LeBron James, and who ever else you want to name.
This year’s team has some SEC-flavor, featuring six players who are currently committed to SEC schools. Below we give you the number that they’ll be wearing in the game as well as the school they’re committed to.
(1) Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri)
SF – 6’10, 212 lbs.
Nathan Hale HS (Seattle, WA)
Porter Jr. is top ranked player in the country, and as we told you last week, after originally committing to the Washington Huskies, he’ll be playing for the Missouri Tigers. Porter is 6’10” with guard skills and if you watch one second of his film, you can see why he’s the top-ranked player in the country. He’s also the only future SEC player on the West roster.
(10) Collin Sexton (Alabama)
SG – 6’3, 175 lbs.
Pebblebrook HS (Mableton, GA)
Sextonis the no. 10 ranked player in the ESPN100 and the no. 2 shooting guard. He is a prototype scorer. He’s athletic, he’s got handles, and he’s a knockdown shooter. His athleticism was on display on Monday night when he won the McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Contest. They’re getting a good one in Tuscaloosa.
(4) Nick Richards (Kentucky)
C – 6’11, 250 lbs.
The Patrick School (Killside, NJ)
Richards is the no. 11 ranked player and the no. 5 center in the country. He could be the latest in long line of athletic shot blockers that have gone through Lexington. Like most high school seniors, he can still improve his offensive game, but at 250 pounds, his frame is more NBA-ready than most guys his size. And 7-footers with his type of athleticism don’t grow on trees.
(25) P.J. Washington Jr. (Kentucky)
PF – 6’8, 225 lbs.
Findlay Prep (Hendersonville, NV)
Washington Jr. is the no. 14 player and no. 2 power forward in the country. He fits the new age model for what a power forward is. He’s got a thick frame to play down low but he has the ball-handling and shooting ability to be a stretch-four.
(0) Quade Green (Kentucky)
PG – 6’1, 170 lbs.
SS. Neumann Goretti HS (Philadelphia, PA)
Green is the no. 22 player and the no. 3 point guard in the country. This guy has everything but elite size. John Calipari always has great point guard play, and it will be no different next year with Green. He’s more Tyler Ulis than De’Aaron Fox but he’s probably got 3-4 inches and 20 pounds on Ulis at this stage. He’s got the leadership, unselfishness, and scoring ability that every great point guard needs.
(2) Jarred Vanderbilt (Kentucky)
PF – 6’8, 200 lbs.
Victory Prep HS (Houston, TX)
Vanderbilt is the no. 23 player and the no. 5 power forward in the country. He’s long, athletic, and can handle the ball. His jump shot could see some improvement, but that’s really the only weakness in his game. You don’t find many guys at his size with that type of athleticism.
There’s still six players in this game that are uncommitted, and if I was a betting man, I would bet Calipari and the Wildcats find a way to add at least one more to this already stellar recruiting class.