(Twitter/ScoutRecruiting)
The future of college basketball–and in many cases, the NBA–will be on display Wednesday night at the United Center, as the best high-school players in the country take part in the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game.
Here’s a complete look at what players will play in the anticipated exhibition:
East Team
Note: 247Sports.com’s composite ranking in parenthesis
Mohamed Bamba, C, Undecided (3)
Wendell Carter Jr., PF, Duke (4)
Trevon Duval, PG, Undecided (5)
Mitchell Robinson, C, Western Kentucky (6)
Collin Sexton, SG, Alabama (7)
Kevin Knox II, SF, Undecided (8)
PJ Washington Jr., PF, Kentucky (13)
Nicholas Richards, C, Kentucky (14)
Kris Wilkes, SF, UCLA (17)
Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami (19)
Jarred Vanderbilt, PF, Kentucky (20)
Quade Green, PG, Kentucky (24)
West Team
Note: 247Sports.com’s composite ranking in parenthesis
Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona (1)
Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri (2)
Gary Trent Jr., SG, Duke (10)
Brandon L. McCoy, C, Undecided (11)
Troy Brown Jr., SF, Oregon (12)
Brian “Tugs” Bowen II, SF, Undecided (15)
Billy Preston, PF, Kansas (16)
Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma (18)
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State (21)
MJ Walker, SG, Undecided (22)
Jaylen Hands, PG, UCLA (25)
Chuck O’Bannon Jr., SF, USC (42)
Roster Breakdown
The West has the consensus two best players in the class in Michael Porter and Deandre Ayton. One is a 6-foot-10 forward with range out to the NBA three-point line, the other is a 7-footer with a polished offensive game, and both are expected to be selected inside the Top 3 in the 2018 NBA draft.
While the West squad has the No. 1 and 2 players, though, the East counters with the next six in the rankings. Every single one of them has lottery potential, but pay close attention to Mohamed Bamba, who has a ridiculous 7-foot-9 wingspan, and Trevon Duval, a point guard whose blend of ball-handling and explosive athleticism makes him a perfect fit for an All-Star game.
In terms of future universities, the most represented school is, unsurprisingly, Kentucky. John Calipari has four recruits in this game–PJ Washington, Nick Richards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Quade Green, who will all play for the East squad–and is expected to have a strong chance at adding Bamba to the class.
Duke and UCLA are the only other schools with multiple players with two each, while the Blue Devils could add two more in Duval and Kevin Knox.
Finally, if you enjoyed college basketball in the 90’s, you can expect to feel old while watching this one, as the sons of both Gary Trent and Charles O’Bannon will be participating.
