McDonald's All-American Game 2015: Score, Top Performers and More

It’s always fun to watch the cubs before they're lions.

Every year, the McDonald's All-American Game showcases the best high school players in the country, all of whom join an elite class of collegiate and professional stars the moment they don the golden arches.

Bleacher Report's Kyle Newport recently highlighted some of the event’s most decorated alumni, which include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Carmelo Anthony.

Here's a telling note from ESPN:

"

Since the games began in 1977, 66 McDonald’s All American alumni have contributed to NBA Titles. #McDAAG

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) April 2, 2015"

The East team pulled away in the end and defeated the West, 111-91, but that doesn't matter much. Because a handful of years from now, when these teens become men, there’s a good chance they’ll be the ones ruling the jungle.

Statistics

Points	Assists	Rebounds
Cheick Diallo, 18 (8-14)	Malik Newman, 5	Cheick Diallo, 10
Allonzo Trier, 17 (6-18)	Jalen Brunson, 4	Ben Simmons, 10
Brandon Ingram, 15 (6-11)	Jawun Evans, 4	Deyonta Davis, 9

For the complete box score, which includes stats and rosters, click here.

Players to Watch

Isaiah Briscoe
High School: Roselle Catholic, New Jersey
Committed: Kentucky

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Isaiah Briscoe is looking to follow Karl-Anthony Towns’ path from the Garden State to the Bluegrass State.

A standout scorer ranked atop the country’s pool of point guards, Briscoe will walk into Kentucky confident in his game.

"It's not about who's going, who's staying," Briscoe said on March 31, per Ben Roberts of Kentucky.com. "It's about me. It's about Isaiah Briscoe. I feel as though my competitive edge will get me over the hump. If I have to go there and compete, that's what I love to do. So that's to my advantage. I don't want anything given to me. I want to take everything."

Steve Helber/Associated Press

It sure is about Isaiah Briscoe, but he’s still recruiting others to come along for the ride, per SNY.tv’s Adam Zagoria:

"

Isaiah Briscoe tells @RealJayWilliams he'd like to play with Jaylen Brown & Malik Newman at UK.

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 2, 2015"

During an on-the-bench interview early in the All-American contest, Briscoe said that he fell in love with the way coach John Calipari lets his points guards play, highlighting Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose and John Wall.

Briscoe went for 11 points, five boards and three assists during the event sponsored by Mickey D's.

Stephen Zimmerman
High School: Bishop Gorman High School, Nevada
Committed: Undecided

Andrew Nelles/Associated Press

Stephen Zimmerman, a well-rounded 7-footer who is currently still on the market, will soon make some lucky program very happy.

The 230-pound center, who went for six points and six rebounds on Wednesday night, has been offered by Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Arizona and UNLV, which has made quite an effort to keep Zimmerman in-state.

Years from now, he might be known for taking one of those teams on a run in the NCAA tournament. But at the moment, this kid is most famous for his insane aerial ability.

Florida State-bound Dwayne Bacon took home the Powerade Jam Fest Slam Dunk Contest title, but Zimmerman stole the show.

City League Hoops had the highlights:

As the official McDAAG Twitter account posted, Zimmerman’s windmill-over-dude-taking-a-selfie slam was the event's most popular dunk:

"

Fans - you voted and the #FansChoiceDunk winner is @BIGG_ZIMM & @jbcrossover5's "Let Me Take a Selfie". #McDAAG https://t.co/1ivYHNuJMu

— All American Games (@McDAAG) April 1, 2015"

The lanky big fella got the game rolling late in the first half on Wednesday with a poster flush that brought fans to their feet.

While prospects like Briscoe and LSU-bound Ben Simmons (seven points, 10 rebounds), the nation’s top player, are dominating the headlines, Zimmerman is a guy to look out for next year and beyond.

Cheick Diallo
High School: Our Savior New American, New York
Committed: Undecided

If you closed your eyes during Cheick Diallo’s interviews with ESPN reporters during the game’s broadcast, you might’ve thought you were in a church or library.

Diallo, who hails from West Africa, may be soft-spoken, but his game screams louder than Russell Westbrook after a ferocious dunk.

The 6’9” forward took home the game's Most Valuable Player award thanks to his 18-point, 10-rebound performance as his squad came away with the win:

"

Your 2015 Boys #McDAAG MVP is @cheick_diallo13! pic.twitter.com/qxQw4p0sCF

— All American Games (@McDAAG) April 2, 2015"

This silky-smooth spin perfectly summarized Diallo's outstanding night:

A day before tipoff, Diallo told Jason Jordan of USA Today that his name—pronounced “Sheck”—is often mangled by coaches trying to recruit him:

"

It’s funny that people still say it wrong. But I don’t mind. I’m so used to it by now. I just go on and answer them; I do recognize when people say it the right way since it doesn’t happen too much.

Kentucky gets it right. I know that, and I think Pitt and Kansas get it right too. Like I said I don’t mind… But I know that’s not my name.

"

We know Diallo’s name now, and so does every coach in the nation.

In a few years, the whole world might know it, too.