Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has been making waves in the basketball world. The 19-year-old played in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game, where he impressed scouts with his performance despite facing intense scrutiny and pressure. Let’s take a closer look at how Bronny performed, his future prospects and other notable players from the game.
Bronny Shines in McDonald’s All-American Game
Bronny played for the West Team, which lost to the East Team by a close margin of 109-106. However, he didn’t go unnoticed with 15 points and four assists to his name. What’s more impressive is that all five shots he made were three-pointers.
During practice sessions, a scrimmage and the Powerade Jam Fest, which took place a day before the game; Bronny showcased his skills as an on-ball defender and a good teammate who never backed down from guarding tough players. According to reports, some scouts were impressed with his game as they commented on his ability to play unselfishly and his positive attitude on and off the court.
Flak for Adidas Mishap
The fact that Bronny chose not to wear Adidas shoes when it was the primary sponsor for the event received criticism. His decision raised speculation that he might be endorsing Nike products due to an NIL deal he signed with them last October. Additionally, he skipped media day availability which drew more attention to him.
However, despite unwanted attention or flak directed towards him for these events surrounding advertised sportswear, Bronny proved that he had what it takes to handle all aspects of high-level basketball on and off-court.
Future College That He Might Attend
Bronny is yet to commit to any college or team for 2023/24, but there are several programs interested in recruiting him, including USC and Oregon. Reports suggest that some commitments from these teams are expressing their desire for him to join them.
Another option is the G League Ignite, which has the home base in Las Vegas, close to the James family’s residence in Los Angeles. The Ignite is known for being one of the most successful and competitive teams at developing young talent for the NBA.
Other Notable Players
Bronny was just one of the many talented players who participated in this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game. Some of the high school prospects who showed promising performances during the game include Omaha Biliew from Iowa State, Jared McCain from Duke, Ron Holland from Texas, D.J. Wagner from Kentucky, Isaiah Collier from USC, Justin Edwards from Kentucky, Matas Buzelis from G League Ignite and Stephon Castle from Connecticut.
Omaha Biliew was praised for his defensive presence and versatility on the court. Jared McCain was described as a winner due to his skills as a shooter on the point guard position. Ron Holland made an impressive first impression with his great length while D.J. Wagner is considered one of the top guards in his class with better-developed patience and shot selection.
Isaiah Collier is a consensus top-three player in his class and hailed for being one of the best-passing guards in the country, playing with efficiency garnering positive feedbacks from NBA scouts. Justin Edwards stands out with his athleticism and three-level scoring ability and acts as a great complementary piece on the wing. Matas Buzelis chose G League Ignite over North Carolina and Kentucky due to his skills at picking up what NBA scouts are looking for – high basketball IQ fused with a good shooting touch. Finally, Stephon Castle has displayed great pace and improved his overall game during this particular season.
Bronny James’ performance at the McDonald’s All-American Game is just one of many indicators pointing to his immense potential as a basketball player. While it’s too early to tell where his career will take him, his skill set and ability to handle pressure show that he’s more than just LeBron James’ son.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
