2016 McDonald's All American Game: Report Card for Every Player

While so much focus this college basketball season has been on "old men" seniors, the McDonald's All American Game in Chicago on Wednesday night showed why so often the game's about the young guys.

Next year could certainly be special, as showcased often at United Center.

It was West 114, East 107 if you were keeping track. Yes, there were a lot of dunks—16 in the first half alone—but there was also some defense, and plenty of unselfish play.

That's a good sign as we look for a stronger freshman class in 2016-17.

There were 24 players who participated. The Jacksons—Frank Jackson (Duke) and Josh Jackson (undecided) each scored 19 points for the winning West and wound up with co-MVP honors.

The nerves were certainly noticeable, but guys loosened up and we saw some real star power. Read on to see who made the honor roll and who will have to be satisfied with perhaps a drive-thru snack afterward.

Grades were based on excitement level they brought to the game, along with how much time was taken during the ESPN broadcast to dissect a player's skills. Stats matter, too, of course—especially efficiency on this kind of night.

But be warned about these grades: Last year's selections who received incompletes could fare better than those who received A's.

So it's not a perfect science. But it sure is fun to look ahead to next year's bumper crop of stars.

A's

Matt Marton/Associated Press

Frank Jackson (Duke)

When you think big-time high school hoops, you may not think Utah. But the point guard from Alpine (near the BYU campus) let loose of his early commitment to the Cougars and was scooped up by Duke last year. Bravo, Coach K.

Jackson is special. He won the slam dunk contest on Monday, and you have to love the way he engages with other players—high-fives and all.

He knocked down five three-pointers (19 points total) and showed his competitive side the Cameron Crazies will adore. Jalen Rose called him "a gem of a young man" on the ESPN broadcast. He's also physically mature, built for college already.

Grade: A+

Josh Jackson (Undecided)

Jackson made nine of his 11 shots, was co-MVP and simply looked like the best player on the court. He was locking down on defense and showed points with a very high hoops IQ.

He has a smooth stroke that deserves a lot of instant replay. He got some slow-motion love on his shot during the game broadcast, and will surely get some more wherever he decides to play.

Grade: A+

Lonzo Ball (UCLA)

Ball had 13 assists (and only one turnover) to guide the West to a win. According to the ESPN broadcast, his dad owns a personal-training business, and both parents were high-level hoopsters growing up—but he doesn't play with any pretense. He threw a lot of lobs.

He is going to do big things at UCLA, so that may take some heat off of coach Steve Alford after this past season. Ball makes easy (but critical) passes and always looks to get teammates involved. East probably wished they could trade for him at halftime.

The dude even did a bounce pass from the three-point line for a teammate to dunk.

Grade: A+

Bam Adebayo (Kentucky)

How do you get a double-double in this kind of game (16 points, 12 rebounds)? Getting a putback slam dunk helps.

Adebayo is really bouncy to go with his 6'9", 232-pound frame.

He was incredibly active on the glass, competing defensively, and he looks like he'll have the temperament to fit in with the Wildcats.

Grade: A

Alterique Gilbert (Connecticut)

I liked this future UConn player's energy level. The 6'1" point guard managed seven points, five rebounds and four assists in 12 minutes. The only knock on him was four turnovers.

But we boost that grade back up after noticing he played some full-court defense in an all-star game. Yes, sir!

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen (Undecided)

The 6'10" center from Texas led all scorers at halftime with nine points, and he kept playing hard in the final 20 minutes, too.

He had a nice blocked shot off a 4-on-2 fast break. Allen has nice mobility, and some team is going to get lucky by landing this guy.

Grade: A-

Malik Monk (Kentucky)

He sure can leap, as proven on a late alley-oop reception. He also had a sweet baseline dunk early in the second half off a Lonzo Ball pass. Goodness, the Wildcats are lucky to have this guy.

He had 11 points and four assists. The only knock is he needed 12 shots to get there.

Grade: A-

B's

Matt Marton/Associated Press

Marques Bolden (Undecided)

Bolden had productive stretches and at times was the best big man on the floor. He often attacked the offensive glass.

He is a fluid passer, too, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Bolden's decision is coming down to Duke and Kentucky. According to the ESPN broadcast, he wants to make it before his April 17 birthday. He'll be a gift to whatever team he chooses, as he already looks like he can score nicely inside over either shoulder.

Grade: B+

Tony Bradley Jr. (North Carolina)

He's the trivia answer to "who scored the game's first basket?"

He really likes to score with his back to the basket. Roy Williams probably can't wait to get him to UNC, even as he's preparing the Tar Heels for the Final Four.

The 6'10" center has a lot to learn, but also a lot to give already. He can already shoot foul shots, which is a nice bonus for an incoming big guy (made five of his six attempts).

Grade: B+

Kobi Simmons (Arizona)

Simmons can really defend and get after guys. He can also go after it himself.

He threw a pass off the board to himself early in the third quarter. Man, did he make that look easy. Arizona coach Sean Miller just seems to keep loading up on sleek rim-seekers. Simmons had 12 points, but was only 1-of-5 from the three-point line.

Grade: B

T.J. Leaf (UCLA)

Future teammate Lonzo Ball stole the show. Meanwhile, this 6'9" forward from California made half of his six shots and posted a tidy nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

Leaf's very skilled and quite the passer. He didn't get to show it all off tonight, but we don't think Steve Alford will reject him for it.

Grade: B

Kyle Guy (Virginia)

Guy won the postgame sportsmanship award. He should be a nice scorer for the Cavaliers next year, thriving while running off screens.

He made three of his seven shots and moved around the floor well to find his spots.

Grade: B

Miles Bridges (Michigan State)

You've got to love a guy who can catch a pass off the glass and do a windmill dunk.

We think Tom Izzo will like that, too.

Bridges is intense, which is appreciated in these games. He put up a hard-but-clean foul late in the first half near the rim on a dunk attempt. Bridges scored eight points on seven shots and added three assists. It's a good start for a future Sparty.

Grade: B

Jayson Tatum (Duke)

Tatum led the losing East with 18 points but needed 15 shots to get there. He has good moves inside, even if he didn't always finish.

He had only two points at halftime but was the recipient of some nice passes.

Tatum has good moves inside. He'll be a likely replacement for Brandon Ingram, so we'll be keeping an eye on him all season.

Grade: B-

Terrance Ferguson (Undecided)

He has a very nice three-point stroke, though he only made 1-of-5 in the game. Ferguson still made half of his eight shot attempts spread across 16 minutes.

Ferguson is looking at a big list of schools, including Maryland and Kansas. Alabama may rue that this guy changed his mind because he's a nice scorer in transition.

Grade: B-

C's

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Zach Collins (Gonzaga)

The Las Vegas product will be one to follow, especially as Gonzaga figures to lose some big men to the pro ranks very soon. Collins started the second half but didn't get a ton of talk about him. He did have a tidy nine points and six boards in 12 minutes.

Grade: C+

Udoka Azubuike (Kansas)

ESPN commentators were critiquing all of the things Azubuike can improve upon, noting he's not accustomed right now to playing guys his size. The future Jayhawk, by way of Florida, has a funky-looking foul shot.

He also enjoyed dribbling a lot. We'll see if Kansas head coach Bill Self will let a 6'11" freshman do that much.

Down the road, he could dominate with length. He's powerful, but right now looks like a project.

Grade: C

Joshua Langford (Michigan State)

The product of Alabama sure has some nice moves. Physically mature at 6'5", he showed off a terrific Euro-step to the rim for two; he also has a nice pull-up jumper.

He has strength and versatility and isn't afraid of the paint against a bunch of big guys.

Grade: C

Markelle Fultz (Washington)

Fultz looks like he could be a nice scorer for the Huskies, but missing eight of his 12 shots isn't going to cut it for these grades.

He appeared nervous, though he did have a fantastic blocked shot from behind on a three-point attempt in the first half. Fultz did have three steals, and he stat-stuffed some which was good to see. He'll be fine. Don't mind the average grade tonight.

Grade: C

De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky)

Fox makes guys better, and teammates love to play hard around him because he's always looking.

But seven assists were virtually offset by five turnovers, and he missed seven of his eight shots.

Grade: C-

Dewan Huell (Miami)

We're not used to seeing McDonald's All Americans going to Miami. Huell played like he had that weight on him. The 6'9" forward missed all but one of his eight shots. It was also a little odd he's from Florida and played on the West.

Though, of good note, he did grab six boards and showed he's a heck of a jumper.

Grade: C-

Incompletes

Matt Marton/Associated Press

Andrew Jones (Texas)

We know Shaka Smart can recruit and develop. The future Longhorn will have to be classified as "unheralded" in this group, though.

He only played seven minutes and missed all three shots.

Grade: Incomplete

Sacha Killeya-Jones (Kentucky)

Killeya-Jones only saw 12 minutes. The 6'10" big man looks like he could be quite versatile, though. He took seven shots and made three. He only came up with two boards in what turned into a layup fest late.

This may be a Kentucky project of sorts.

Grade: Incomplete

VJ King (Louisville)

King only saw four shots and a couple of free throws in his dozen minutes.

There's good news, though: He wasn't at Louisville this year, so he'll have more to play for. He should fit right in with Rick Pitino's adoration of smooth, versatile guards.

Grade: Incomplete