Real-Time Notes From The McDonald's All-American Game
Last night in ESPN’s nine o’clock time slot, after Wisconsin and North Texas gave viewers one of college basketball’s worst endings in an NIT semifinal (Wisconsin led 54-46 with nine minutes to go, didn’t score again, and lost 56-54), the 46th edition of the McDonald’s High School All-American Boys Game was played and televised live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, eight miles from the site of this year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four.
Meanwhile, back in Kentucky, a regular McDonald’s consumer who did not succeed at the high school level of basketball was watching the action from the comfort of his couch, and he jotted down some notes as he watched the game in real-time to keep from doing other things around the house.
You can follow the game via his notes below.
The broadcast began with ESPN play-by-play man Ted Emrich introducing himself and his colleagues, former McDonald’s All-American guard Cory Alexander and ESPN recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi. Together, they opened the program from courtside, celebrating the family aspect surrounding this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game, where three participants are the sons of former and/or current NBA players, including DJ Wagner Jr., the first third-generation McDonald’s All-American. Wagner’s grandfather, Milt, was a Burger Boy in 1981; his father, Dajuan, was a 2001 McDAA before he was John Calipari’s first one-and-done at Memphis.
Bronny James, the prodigal son, and Andrej Stojaković, the son of three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojaković, also brought their NBA bloodlines to this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game–“where hype becomes legacy.”
Emrich asked, “Can there be a better feeling for a father than to see his child’s dreams come true, especially when they follow the same path?”
In the game’s opening, Biancardi said of Wagner, “He is the number one point guard in the class. Wagner has been outstanding this week in practices and the scrimmage. He has big-time transition ability. He’s got plenty of shake and wiggle to get into the paint. He’s got the blow-by, the finish ability. His midrange jump shot is nice. His three-point shot is improving. I love the way he plays with an edge. And he’ll be in Kentucky next season.”
As tip-off neared, LeBron James and the James family were shown courtside. On the court, McDonald’s All-American Ron Holland II, a Texas native and University of Texas signee, was interviewed before his starting assignment as the West team’s power forward. The five-star prospect said, “We’re all competitors. We will make this one of the most competitive games anyone’s ever seen.”
Then the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game tipped off.
FIRST QUARTER
— Wearing white uniforms, the East started a five of DJ Wagner (Kentucky), Elmarko Jackson (Kansas), Cody Williams (Colorado), Justin Edwards (Kentucky), and Xavier Booker (Michigan State). ESPN misspelled Kentucky on Wagner’s graphic. It’s not KENTUKCY.
— In black, the West’s starting five included Isaiah Collier (USC), Jared McCain (Duke), Andrej Stojaković (Stanford), Ron Holland II (Texas), and Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State).
Here are the complete rosters:
— The West won the tip, and Collier, the future USC Trojan, threw an errant pass out of bounds for the game’s first turnover. (9:40)
— On the East’s first possession, Wagner took the game’s first shot, a wide-open three-pointer that missed its mark, hitting the front rim and clanging back toward the court, where it landed on the foul line. (9:30)
— As the West brought it back up, Cory Alexander noted the East dominated Sunday’s scrimmage. You can read KSR’s notes from that scrimmage here for more details. (9:27)
— The Duke commit, McCain, stepped into a long two for the game’s first points on the West’s second trip up the floor. The elbow jumper showcased the second-ranked shooting guard’s pure shooting motion heading to Cameron Indoor Stadium. (9:17: West 2, East 0)
— After Booker missed a long three for the East, Collier drained a long ball only seconds into the West’s next possession. Edwards, a Kentucky commit, then missed with another quick trigger from outside for the East, and it’s looking like the guys are going to stand around and shoot outside a lot in this one. A typical All-Star game. (8:40: West 5, East 0)
— The ESPN broadcast does not show the game clock until a shot goes in. Let’s get that fixed.
— Reed Sheppard spotted on the West team’s bench. He is the only reserve with his warmup unbuttoned, revealing his No. 15 jersey in honor of his dad. Put him in, Coach. (8:34: West 5, East 0)
— In that same bench shot, we saw Mookie Cook, the four-star Oregon commit who portrays LeBron James in the new biopic and film adaption of James’ book, “Shooting Stars,” about how James and his childhood friends became the best high school basketball team in the country. Here’s the new trailer featuring Cook as LeBron. (8:34: West 5, East 0)
— Stojaković connected on his first three-point try of the evening. I loved his dad on those old Sacramento Kings teams. (7:56: West 8, East 1)
— After McCain scored again to put the West up by nine early, Kentucky’s Wagner took the East’s offensive matters into his own hands and drew a foul on a drive toward the basket. Wagner finished the play with a score through contact, but the foul was called on the floor before the shot. Though scoreless, it was our first taste of Wagner in attack mode. (7:10: West 10, East 1)
— Moments later, Wagner showed Big Blue Nation the defense he will bring to Lexington when Collier tried to take him to the rim, only for Wagner to swat Collier’s right-handed layup attempt cutting to the left side of the rim. (6:41: West 10, East 2)
— Future UK teammate Justin Edwards caught Wagner’s block off the glass and nearly took the ball coast-to-coast for a Kentucky highlight reel. Edwards did the coast-to-coast part, but his lefty layup rolled out. Booker cleaned up the miss for the East’s first field goal. (6:33: West 10, East 4)
— Collier scored again. I see why On3 ranked him as the best point guard and No. 2 overall player in the 2023 class. USC is getting a good one. (6:18: West 12, East 4)
— In response, Justin Edwards took a selfish three-point try from the top of the key, three feet behind the line and only seconds into the possession. It ricocheted off the front of the rim directly into the arms of two opponents. Edwards is 0-for-3 to start the night. (6:09: West 12, East 4)
— Collier with a flashy assist to Brandon Garrison for two more. This Collier guy is a problem. (6:01: West 14, East 4)
— And-one, Collier. He made the free throw. I think he got tired of all the good publicity Wagner received from the McDonald’s scrimmage and Monday night festivities. (5:37: West 17, East 4)
— Everyone, remove your hats; Bronny James is checking in. Kentucky commit Aaron Bradshaw, too. (5:37: West 17, East 4)
— Bradshaw immediately drained a three!!! Nope. Foot on the line. It was a long two. Somewhere, John Calipari is smiling. (5:24: West 17, East 6)
— Bronny James nailed a three on his first possession with the West. The broadcast quickly flashes toward LeBron and the James family. (5:11: West 20, East 8)
— Bradshaw with a heat check. No good. But he hustled after a loose ball in an effort to collect his own miss, so we like that. (4:46: West 20, East 8)
— I’m realizing this will be a 5,000-word post at this pace, so I will slow down on the play-by-play format. (4:36: West 20, East 8)
— Offensive rebound, Bradshaw. He drew a foul on the putback effort and hit both free throws, a great start for the future Wildcat. (4:07: West 22, East 10)
— The East went right back to Bradshaw, this time in a post-up look. His midrange fadeaway jumper from the paint missed left. (3:44: West 23, East 10)
— Bronny James swished an NBA-range three-pointer. Where hype becomes legacy! (3:02: West 28, East 12)
— Again, Bradshaw got a touch in the paint with his back to the goal, and again, his shot missed its mark. This time he was in good position, just outside the restricted area. “He’s gotta get more comfortable with his back to the basket,” notes Biancardi. (2:01: West 28, East 16)
— Bradshaw blocked the home-state favorite, Holland. Bradshaw is aggressive on both ends early. He’s already done a little bit of everything in his first minutes of the game. (1:26: West 30, East 18)
— And now Bradshaw to the line after he was shoved in the back for having a good position for a defensive rebound. He hit the first, missed the second. (1:21: West 30, East 19)
— New to the game, Reed Sheppard drove straight to the basket for a quick layup and his first two points. “Don’t sleep on Reed Sheppard when he gets to Kentucky,” said Alexander. (1:05: West 32, East 19)
— And now, a profile of the Sheppard family and their University of Kentucky ties during a brief break in the action. Out of it, the broadcast notes Reed Sheppard does not play video games. (0:41: West 32, East 21)
— Aden Holloway, an Auburn commit, sank a deep three-pointer to beat the buzzer. Holloway got the East back with 10 points in the first quarter. We’ll see him in the SEC next season. (0:00: West 34, East 26)
FIRST SCORE: WEST 34, EAST 26
SECOND QUARTER
— With the first points in the second quarter, Kentucky’s Justin Edwards tipped in Sean Stewart‘s miss for Edwards’ first made field goal of the night. (9:37: West 34, East 28)
— It’s back-to-back for Justin Edwards. The future Wildcat drove right for a left-handed finish and two more points. (9:14: West 34, East 30)
— Bronny James splashed yet another three-pointer. He’s up to nine points and the West’s lead is back to ten. (8:09: West 40, East 30)
— “A Kentucky connection!” Wagner set up Edwards for a three-pointer from the left wing, the first of many Wagner-to-Edwards highlights to come. Edwards has seven points, all in the first three minutes of the second quarter, on 1-of-3 shooting from outside. He’s scored in three different ways. (7:21: West 40, East 35)
— Wagner found the open shooter again; in this case, he hit Elmarko Jackson, the future Kansas Jayhawk, on the right wing for the East’s second consecutive triple. (6:50: West 42, East 38)
— Bronny missed a heat check. Still, he looks like he belongs among the best in his class. (6:39: West 42, East 38)
— Back in the game, Reed Sheppard bricked a long jumper from one step inside the three-point line. (3:43: West 49, East 43)
— Bradshaw drew a foul on Ron Holland while receiving an entry pass. Bradshaw stepped to the line and swished both shots. (2:50: West 53, East 48)
— Reed Sheppard grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed it ahead to Collier, who scored and drew a foul. A great lookahead pass and quick reaction from Sheppard. Collier made the free throw. It was Wagner who fouled. (2:15: West 58, East 48)
— Wagner missed a long two early in the next possession. He had a toe on the line. (2:03: West 58, East 48)
— Edwards followed Wagner’s long miss with a missed three-point try on the East’s next possession. It was a replay of the Wagner-to-Edwards play that worked minutes earlier. (1:53: West 58, East 48)
— ESPN’s broadcast took a break from the basketball to discuss the TikTok accounts of Jared McCain and Bronny James.
— With under a minute to go, Wagner found Edwards in the corner for an open three-pointer. “Teammates tonight, teammates next year at Kentucky.” More! More! More! (0:52: West 60, East 51)
— Before halftime, the broadcast reminded viewers of the one Kentucky signee not a part of the McDonald’s festivities, Robert Dillingham, who one of the commentators called “maybe the most pure bucket in the class.”
HALFTIME SCORE: WEST 60, EAST 51
THIRD QUARTER
— After a sloppy start, the first major Kentucky moment of the second half came when Reed Sheppard intercepted a pass and took it the other way for a two-handed slam. (8:13: West 62, East 55)
— Then, 10 seconds later, Sheppard swiped Matas Buzelis and hit McCain for an open three-pointer. That’s two steals, a two-hand jam, and an assist for Sheppard, and if you looked away, you might’ve missed it. (7:57: West 64, East 55)
— Another assist for Sheppard after he carved his way into the second level to hit the open man at the rim for an easy two. (6:53: West 69, East 59)
— For the first time in the game, there isn’t a future Kentucky Wildcat on the floor. (5:51: West 71, East 63)
— Once some Wildcats checked back in, DJ Wagner quickly attacked the left side, and his teammate, Aaron Bradshaw, cleaned up the miss from high off the glass. (5:19: West 74, East 63)
— Wagner eyed and sank a three-pointer on his next trip up the court. The three were his first points of the entire game, surprisingly. (4:58: West 76, East 68)
— Three for Wagner with a hand in his face. He is heating up. (3:51: West 79, East 71)
— More Kentucky… Justin Edwards intercepted a pass and hit the euro-step for a two the other way. The move to intercept the pass was as impressive as the finish. (3:07: West 79, East 73)
— Aaron Bradshaw tipped in Edwards’ missed three from the top of the key. It’s becoming a Kentucky show and a good game. (3:07: West 79, East 75)
— The East cooled off until Bradshaw scored one more point by splitting a pair of free throws with a minute left in the quarter. His free throw stroke looks promising for next season. (1:09: West 85, East 78)
SCORE: WEST 85, EAST 78
FOURTH QUARTER
— The fourth quarter began with a split-screen interview with Reed Sheppard. He said Kentucky is getting a guy who will do anything to win next season and hopefully win a national championship.
On the court, there are no Kentucky Wildcats again.
— Bronny James hit another three. (6:05: West 96, East 87)
— I just noticed Kentucky’s own Kareem Watkins, a walk-on, is seated three seats away from LeBron James. Watkins is DJ Wagner’s stepbrother. (5:54: West 96, East 87)
— After the East’s Aden Holloway hit a three from the wing, Wagner matched with a corner three on the next possession to pull the East within three. Wagner up to 11 after a scoreless first half. (5:15: West 96, East 93)
— Seconds later, Wagner intercepted a lazy pass and finished with a two-handed dunk in the open court. 13 for DJ. One-point game. (5:02: West 96, East 95)
— The commercials want me to get off the couch for the McDonald’s McSpicy, but I won’t do it. Maybe tomorrow, though.
— Collier took Aaron Bradshaw off the dribble for an easy two to push the West’s lead back up to three. Collier is tough. Bradshaw got caught in a switch. How did he respond? He got fouled on a three-pointer and hit two of the three freebies. (4:22: West 98, East 97)
— Edwards flashed his defensive tenacity, forcing a three-second violation by swarming Ja’Kobe Walter in the paint. The crowd erupted, including John Calipari on his feet. It’s rare to see defense garner applause in an all-star showcase. We’re going to love Edwards in Lexington. (3:54: West 98, East 97)
— The teams traded turnovers, and on the second, Edwards swiped a pass and made a full-length pass up to the snowbird, Elmarko Jackson, and the go-ahead dunk. Defense wins McDonald’s All-American Games! (3:27: East 99, West 98)
— Now tied, Wagner’s long-range stepback jumper was short, but Bradshaw was there for the offensive rebound. Bradshaw was fouled in the pile and hit both free throws to give the East its biggest lead of the game at two.
Worth noting: Bradshaw wants to own a trucking company after his basketball career, according to the broadcast. (3:07: East 101, West 99)
— Collier hit a three to retake the lead. I’m glad the Georgia Player of the Year is going out west to USC and not somewhere in the south. (2:43: West 102, East 101)
— Bradshaw with ANOTHER offensive rebound and putback. Oscar who?! (2:25: East 103, West 102)
— More Bradshaw! The big fella stole an interior pass to set up an alley-oop from Wagner to Jackson, but Jackson couldn’t complete the play. Could’ve been something special. (2:06: East 103, West 102)
— Tied at 103, Wagner put the East back in front with a downhill drive for two on the left side. Wagner can go either direction on the attack, a trait Kentucky guards have lacked recently. (1:42: East 105, West 103)
— Bronny can’t stop hitting three-pointers. He hit his fifth to retake the lead. (1:42: West 106, East 105)
— Am I nervous during a McDonald’s All-American Game? I think I am and I don’t even have money on this.
— East needing a basket, Wagner air-balled a three-pointer from the top of the key. Going the other way, Collier attacked Wagner on the opposite end for a look at two at the rim, but his layup was blocked by Stewart, the future Duke Blue Devil. (0:38: West 106, East 105)
— In transition after Stewart’s block, Justin Edwards pushed the ball forward to Wagner for the GO-AHEAD DUNK. (0:33: East 107, West 106)
— With a chance to retake the lead, Collier drew a foul and missed both free throws, securing DJ Wagner’s place as the game’s MVP. Wagner sealed the win with two free throws for a game-high 19 points, all in the East’s second-half comeback. (0:09: East 109, West 106)
FINAL SCORE: EAST 109, WEST 106
Thanks for following along. Sorry if it was messy or too long. It was certainly too long.
If you want more on the Kentucky guys, read about their performances here. Go Cats.
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