McDonald's All-American Game 2018: Roster, Schedule and Prospects to Watch
March 27, 2018
The six-day gap between the Elite Eight and Final Four is an arduous trek no college basketball fan wants to endure after the fast pace of the first two weeks of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Luckily for men's basketball fans, there is action to enjoy during the week to fill the void, as the 2018 McDonald's All-American Game takes place Wednesday.
Although it may not be as competitive as the NCAA tournament, Wednesday's showcase at Phillips Arena in Atlanta provides us with a glimpse into the future.
Duke is the most represented school, with four commits on the two 12-man rosters, while perennial powers Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina have a strong presence as well.
2018 McDonald's All-American Game Info
Date: Wednesday, March 28
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Rosters
East
R.J. Barrett (Montverde Academy (FL), committed to Duke)
Moses Brown (Archbishop Molloy (NY), UCLA)
Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy (TN), Vanderbilt)
Louis King (Hudson Catholic (NJ), Oregon)
Romeo Langford (New Albany (IN), Uncommitted)
David McCormack (Oak Hill Academy (VA), Kansas)
E.J. Montgomery (Joseph Wheeler (GA), Uncommitted)
Immanuel Quickley (The John Carroll School (MD), Kentucky)
Nazreon Reid (Roselle Catholic (NJ), LSU)
Jalen Smith (Mount St. Joseph (MD), Maryland)
Coby White (Greenfield (NC), North Carolina)
Zion Williamson (Spartanburg Day (SC), Duke)
West
Darius Bazley (Princeton (OH), Syracuse)
Bol Bol (Findlay Prep (NV), Oregon)
Jordan Brown (Prolific Prep (CA), Uncommitted)
Devon Dotson (Providence Day (NC), Kansas)
Quentin Grimes (The Woodlands (TX), Kansas)
Keldon Johnson (Oak Hill Academy (VA), Kentucky)
Tre Jones (Apple Valley (MN), Duke)
Nassir Little (Orlando Christian Prep (FL), North Carolina)
Reggie Perry (Thomasville (GA), Mississippi State)
Jahvon Quinerly (Hudson Catholic (NJ), Villanova)
Cameron Reddish (Westtown School (PA), Duke)
Simisola Shittu (Vermont Academy (VT), Vanderbilt)
Players to Watch
Louis King
Oregon commit Louis King finds himself in an interesting situation Wednesday, as he'll be playing against a high school teammate and a future college teammate.
Because the players selected for this year's game primarily come from schools in the east, King and Jahvon Quinerly were split up.
King and Quinerly have been playing together since middle school so the experience is going to be different for both of them, per Jason Jordan of USA Today.
"We’ve been playing with each other since the seventh grade so it’ll be different,” King said. “We’re both competitors and we go hard for each other, but to be able to compete against him will be different in a good way."
King, who is a small forward, is headed to Oregon along with Bol Bol, who is playing with Quinerly on the West roster.
Just like many players on the East and West rosters, King has the potential to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft in the near future.
What separates King from the rest of the class of 2018 right now is his offensive game, as he is one of the best shooters entering college next season.
King also possesses a build that can handle the rigors of the men's basketball season right away, which is something Oregon needs as it tries to get back in the Big Dance.
Tre Jones
Four years after his brother Tyus took the hardwood as a McDonald's All-American, Tre Jones is looking to make an impact on the game before he heads to Duke.
The point guard from Minnesota is following in his older brother's footsteps by heading to Durham, North Carolina, and he's going to have an important job in his freshman season.
With Grayson Allen graduating, and a talented freshman class led by Marvin Bagley III most likely headed for the NBA, Jones and his classmates are going to fill major roles right away.
While he isn't a true scorer like R.J. Barrett or a heavy paint presence like Zion Williamson, Jones is a distributor that could have the most important role on the floor for Duke next season, as he tries to get everyone the ball.
Due to the success his older brother achieved at Duke, Jones might enter Duke with a bit more pressure than freshmen usually face, but he should be able to handle it.
As you watch Jones play Wednesday, he'll display similar qualities to his brother, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but there are also little nuances to his game on the ball that make him a little different of a player.
Simisola Shittu
Vanderbilt sticks out when you scroll down the list of schools with multiple McDonald's All-American Game participants.
The Commodores aren't used to getting high-level recruits, but head coach Bryce Drew changed that by bringing in Simisola Shittu and Darius Garland.
Shittu, a Canadian power forward who played his high school basketball in Vermont, is one of a few big men to watch on the West roster.
Given his size and athleticism, Shittu could be a good complement to Bol, who is going to receive plenty of attention due to his height.
If defenders move in Bol's direction, he could dish the ball out to Shittu for short jumpers in open space, which may lead to a high-scoring performance from the power forward.
Shittu and Garland also have another motive Wednesday, as they try to influence the uncommitted Romeo Langford to join them instead of choosing Indiana or Kansas.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.