Recruiting: McDonald's All-American game observations

The 2016 recruiting class was on full display Wednesday night in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago.

From LeBron James to Kobe Bryant to Shaq, a basketball players’ career truly begins when they step on the floor in Chicago for the best high school All-Star game in the nation, the McDonald’s All-American game.

While no conclusions can be made with very little defense, Wednesday night was the first opportunity for the 2016 recruiting class to make their impressions on national television. Five-star guards Frank Jackson (committed to Duke) and Josh Jackson (uncommitted) did just that as they earned co-MVPs in the West’s 114-107 win over the East.

Frank Jackson, who is a native of Utah but chose the Blue Devils over the Utes and others, had trouble in the first couple of minutes – he had two turnovers – but settled down to score 19 points thanks to his smooth three point shooting stroke and solid athleticism. With Duke desperately needing a point guard that can handle the rock and run the team’s offensive sets, Jackson is capable of sliding into the starting lineup and outplaying Derryck Thornton Jr.

The uncommitted man, Josh Jackson, was even more impressive on Wednesday. He put together a complete performance, blocking shots on the defensive end, attacking the hoop in transition and finishing at the rim with authority. But what was most impressive was his motor and competitiveness.

With 47 seconds remaining, Josh decided to dive for a loose ball and came away upset with himself for not giving his team another chance to score. That work ethic and fire will be critical at the college level and will certainly impress NBA scouts moving forward.

The Michigan native and 3rd overall recruit on ESPN’s top 100 is down to Kansas, Michigan State and Arizona. He should be deciding within the next couple of weeks.

Here are some other observations from the event:

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-Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo, the number four overall recruit and Kentucky commit, was not active in the scoring column but was able to show off his versatility and toughness in the interior. Adebayo has decent ball handling skills for a big man – he had the rock in transition on multiple occasions – and if he can consistently knock down his mid-range jumper, he could be in the mix as a top three selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

What makes Adebayo special is his physical presence on the glass. He is a high energy talent who will body any opponent up with the intention of embarrassing that player with a poster. Dunks are his speciality so Big Blue Nation better be ready for highlight reels.

-Lonzo Ball is headed to UCLA as the number five overall recruit and his passing abilities will be awfully helpful for Steve Alford’s unit. The Chino Hills High School product has a terrific feel for the game, can distribute the ball in excellent fashion and is capable of putting his teammates in the correct positions on the offensive end of the floor.

While his jump shot needs a ton of work, his ball handling, court vision and maturity when it comes to running a team, will give the Bruins the option of pushing Bryce Alford off the ball.

-Markelle Fultz, the 10th overall recruit, is a special, fun player to watch. He told ESPN that he was cut from his varsity basketball team as a sophomore and suddenly two years later, he is on the biggest stage in high school hoops.

Fultz has really improved his three point jumper, is aggressive in the mid-range and should be a huge piece for Washington next season.

-Udoka Azubuike, a five-star recruit that is committed to Kansas, is a bully in the painted area due to his strong frame, 6’11” 270 pounds.

You don’t want to get in his way as his power is on another level.

But if he wants to maximize his talents, he must develop a stronger feel for the game, improve his hand-eye coordination and work on his conditioning.

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-Malik Monk – he’s headed to Kentucky – showed off his combination of unbelievable athleticism and sharp shooting from beyond the arc.

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Recruiting: McDonald’s All-American game observations

By Carmine Carcieri | Mar 30, 2016

The 2016 recruiting class was on full display Wednesday night in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago.

More from Busting Brackets