2024 McDonald's All-American Game Recap
The 2024 McDonald's All-American Game was one of the most talent laden and competitive games we've had in a while. Here is who stood out.
The 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game was one of the more competitive All-Star games that you’ll see. This game was absolutely loaded with talent, and the players did not disappoint. Between the scrimmage and the game itself, the level of competition was extremely high. There was impressive shot-making, competitive defense, and nail-biting finishes. In the last two games, two of the biggest standouts were Brandon Miller and Reed Sheppard, who carried that momentum into having phenomenal freshman seasons. This game isn’t the end all be all, but it has been pretty telling in the last couple years of who some of the “real” guys are. Here were some of the biggest standouts from the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game.
Ian Jackson – SG ESPN #16 – North Carolina
The biggest standout for me was Ian Jackson. Jackson scored 20 points in both the scrimmage and the game as he constantly showed off his scoring versatility. Jackson thrived on both ends of the floor as he relentlessly leveraged his athleticism to gain an advantage. Despite it being an All-Star game, Jackson still locked up on defense. Let’s get this disclaimer out of the way now, but it was an All-Star game full of high schoolers, so I’m not going to be overly critical of any defensive lapses. While Jackson had a few, the bulk of his defense consisted of him sitting in a stance, moving his feet, and really annoying ball handlers.
While Jackson’s defense was nice, the real show came on the offensive end. In the actual game, Jackson got off to a brutal start as he struggled to find his shot and finish consistently. In the second half, though, Jackson turned it on in a big way. Jackson relentlessly found his way to the rim, cut off ball, pushed in transition, and even showed some craft with some hesitation moves out of the pick-and-roll. Across the two games, Jackson also showed his growth as a shooter. It hasn’t always been his calling card, and he’ll likely still have plenty of inconsistencies next year, but Jackson has clearly put in the time and improved a ton.
When you watch Jackson play, there aren’t many systems that feel like a better fit than North Carolina’s. His energetic pace, eagerness to run, and toughness will fit in perfectly. For me, Jackson had the most impressive performance in the scrimmage and game, and Tar Heel fans should be very excited about him.