Jordan Brand Classic 2012: Why Event Trumps McDonald's Game as Talent Showcase

The McDonald's All-American Game has the tradition, but the Jordan Brand Classic has taken over as the premier high school basketball talent showcase. 

For starters, the Michael Jordan brand seems to resonate with this generation more. The difference in participation amongst the top players is proof of that.

Take a look at the rosters for the JBC:

East Team

Name	Pos	Hgt	Wgt	High School (School Location)	College
Kyle Anderson	PF	6-7	210	St. Anthony H.S. (Jersey City, NJ)	UCLA
Kris Dunn	PG	6-3	180	New London H.S. (New London, CT)	Providence
Jerami Grant	WF	6-7	200	DeMatha Catholic H.S. (Hyattsville, MD)	Syracuse
Gary Harris	WG	6-4	195	Hamilton Southeastern H.S. (Fishers, IN)	Michigan State
Brice Johnson	PF	6-9	210	Edisto H.S. (Cordova, SC)	North Carolina
Nerlens Noel	C	6-10	215	Tilton School (Tilton, NH)	Undecided
Ricardo Ledo	WG	6-6	180	South Kent School (South Kent, CT)	Providence
Tony Parker	C	6-9	270	Miller Grove H.S. (Lithonia, GA)	Undecided
Rodney Purvis	PG	6-4	190	Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, NC)	N.C. State
Kaleb Tarczweski	C	7-0	240	St. Mark’s School (Southborough, MA)	Arizona
J.P. Tokoto	WF	6-6	195	Menomonee Falls H.S. (Milwaukee, WI)	North Carolina

West Team

Name	Pos	Hgt	Wgt	High School (School Location)	College
Steven Adams	C	6-11	235	Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg, MA)	Pittsburgh
Brandon Ashley	PF	6-8	215	Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV)	Arizona
Isaiah Austin	C	7-0	210	Grace Prep (Arlington, TX)	Baylor
Anthony Bennett	PF	6-8	230	Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV)	Undecided
Archie Goodwin	WG	6-5	181	Sylvan Hills H.S. (Little Rock, AR)	Kentucky
Danuel House	WF	6-6	185	Hightower H.S. (Houston, TX)	Houston
Grant Jerrett	WF	6-10	220	La Verne Lutheran H.S. (La Verne, CA)	Arizona
Shabazz Muhammad	WF	6-6	215	Bishop Gorman H.S. (Las Vegas, NV)	Undecided
Marcus Paige	PG	6-1	160	Linn-Mar H.S. (Marion, IA)	North Carolina
Alex Poythress	WF	6-7	215	Northeast H.S. (Clarksville, TN)	Kentucky
Rasheed Sulaimon	WG	6-3	175	Strake Jesuit College Prep (Houston, TX	Duke

(Info from jordanbrandclassic.com.)

It reads like a whose who among the top high school players in the nation. The JBC has all of the top seven players listed on the ESPN Top 100 players. Muhammad, Noel, Adams, Austin, Tarczewski, Bennett and Anderson are all scheduled to play in the JBC.

Of that group, the McDonald's game had only five, missing Noel, the nation's top player per ESPN, and Tarczewski.

The JBC isn't void of any major players in the country.

It's not just the best potential college players in action. Take a look at the most recent mock draft for 2013 on nbadraft.net.

Four players from the top 10 are in action from the early list.

Realizing that the international prospects ultimately become a major part of the American game, the JBC has a international game as well.

It features 16 of the top 17-and-under players from around the world. The 2011 NBA draftees Jonas Valanciunas and Enes Kanter have both played in this game.

The event also features a battle for bragging rights in the state of North Carolina. Obviously, MJ is paying homage to his hometown with this one.

All in all, the three games offer a more robust display of prep talent. 

You can catch the game live on ESPN, April 14 from Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.