WASHINGTON (WUSA) — The future stars of college basketball will face each other in the McDonald’s All-American game tonight.
Amid March Madness, college basketball fans will be taking a midway break to see the best high school recruits in the nation showcase their talents against each other at 9 PM E.T. on ESPN2.
The Washington-Baltimore area will be represented in the game by Jalen Smith (Baltimore, MD) ranked 22nd in the nation, and a University of Maryland commit.
The 6’9” power forward put up an impressive 24 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks per game and will likely continue his dominance at UMD.
This McDonald’s All-American game will also be an opportunity to see history in the making.
For the first time in the modern era of basketball, the top three high school recruits are all going to the same program.
Duke’s roster will feature R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish, and Zion Williamson.
R.J. Barrett, the number one recruit in the nation, is the most accomplished high school player in the world, and just led Canada to the gold medal in the FIBA U19 World Cup.
His change-of-speed style of play and slashing ability are gifts that will be on full display Wednesday tonight.
Cameron Reddish, a Paul George-esque 6’8” wing with a 7’1” wingspan, has refined ball-handling skills and is deadly from range off the dribble.
And then there’s Zion Williamson whose reputation precedes him.
The 6’6” 272 pound freak athlete has become an Instagram staple as one of the best high school dunkers in history.
He is the biggest star in the 2018 class, and has garnered attention from the likes of Kevin Durant and Drake, who has even featured his Spartanburg Day School jersey on his Instagram.
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Aside from Duke’s big 3, some players to watch include Bol Bol and Romeo Langford.
Bol Bol, the son of former NBA player Manute Bol, is 7’2” and has a 7’8” wingspan.
But his role is not just as a rim protector, he represents a new generation of bigs that can't only accumulate blocks and rebounds but also shoot beyond the arc and score with their backs away from the basket.
Romeo Langford is a 6’5” shooting guard and is considered the best 3 point shooter in his class.
Langford is an especially intriguing case because he has not yet committed to a school, and his scoring instincts and shooting ability could change the direction of the program he chooses.
Four Duke commits will be featured in the game, including the top 3 recruits of the class, the next highest from a program will be Kansas with three.
The talent that will be going to Coach K next year will be staggering.
