2026 McDonald's All-American Game Recap
The 2026 McDonald's All-American game is a great showcase for some of the very best high school players in the country. Here's what stood out between Jordan Smith, Tyran Stokes, Caleb Holt, and more.
Showcase games obviously need to be taken with a grain of salt, but the high school ones have historically been a good indicator of who the guys are in a class. Previous McDonald’s All-American games have given us big showings from AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Brandon Miller, Reed Sheppard, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, and more. The 2026 McDonald’s All-American game was pretty ugly at times, with both teams shooting under 23% from three. However, there were notable takeaways from some of the top players like Jordan Smith Jr., Tyran Stokes, Jaxon Richardson, and many more.
Jordan Smith Jr.– SG, Arkansas, ESPN #2
Throughout this game, Jordan Smith felt like the best player on the court. Smith popped last summer during FIBA when he was playing up a year, and that trend of standing out despite being surrounded by a ton of talent continued for him. Smith was solid on defense, but it was his offensive aggressiveness and versatility that popped. Smith made some nice passing reads and was tremendous at getting downhill. He handled contact well and consistently broke out deceleration euro steps to create space around the rim. Like everyone else in this game, Smith struggled with his outside shot. That’ll be the big area of improvement to watch with him going forward. Arkansas fans should be ecstatic about what Smith should bring to the team next season, especially if guys like Billy Richmond, Meleek Thomas, and Karter Knox return.
Jason Crowe – PG, Missouri, ESPN #7
Jason Crowe ended up walking away with Co-MVP honors with Caleb Holt, and it was well deserved. Side note, can we stop giving Co-MVP awards in these types of games? Just pick a guy. Crowe looked fantastic, though. What stood out the most was his handle, on-ball creation, and how he manipulated defenders with his change-of-pace dribbling. Crowe looked very comfortable on the ball and in traffic. He consistently used his tight handle and change of pace to toy with defenders and get paint touches whenever he wanted. He was effective around the rim and had a nice floater. He was also making the most advanced passing reads of anyone on the court with hit-ahead transition passes, lobs, and kickouts. Crowe struggled to shoot the ball, but his mechanics and touch looked encouraging. Once Crowe gets just a little bit stronger, his rim pressure is going to be a massive problem for defenders to deal with.
Caleb Holt – SG, Arizona, ESPN #4
Caleb Holt is going to fit like a glove with Arizona next season. I was really impressed with his shot creation and scoring upside. The shots didn’t always go in, but Holt was creating in ways that we see from elite scoring guards. He did a great job of using hesitations and spin moves, and he has a great foundation with his jumper mechanics. He also made some nice passing reads that could continue to grow in a crucial way to give him more diversified on-ball equity. Holt also didn’t need the ball to make an impact, which is rare in these types of games. He did a good job of filling his lanes in transition, crashing the offensive glass, cutting, and being competitive on defense.
Latrell Allmond – SF, Oklahoma State, ESPN #34
I loved the way that Latrell Allmond played. He didn’t put up crazy numbers, but his style of play was infectious. Allmond is a good athlete with a great motor. I loved how he moved off-ball, pushed in transition, and most importantly, defended. He has all the tools to be an incredibly versatile defender. He was shutting down drives, making good rotations, and being disruptive. Allmond still needs to improve his handle and shot, but he was the one guy that I came away the most impressed with compared to expectations.
Toni Bryant – PF, Missouri, ESPN #14
Bryant was another major standout despite having a relatively simple game. I promise that’s not an insult. Bryant’s presence was consistently felt on both ends of the floor by playing within himself and not forcing things. Bryant didn’t show a ton of shot creation or playmaking, but his play finishing and spot-up jumper looked incredibly intriguing. Bryant was also very good on the boards while showing some defensive upside. I didn’t get star or game wrecker vibes from him, but more so high-end complementary player who can play with just about anyone. The pairing of him and Crowe could be a ton of fun at Missouri next season.
Tyran Stokes – PF, Undecided, ESPN #1
The combination of size and skill with Tyran Stokes is undeniable. He was at his best in transition, nearly unstoppable getting downhill, and had some nice defensive playmaking sequences. He even had one or two passing reads that made me raise my eyebrows. However, I always come away wanting a lot more from him. His defense was pretty rough at times, with constant ball-watching; his outside shot needs work, and his decision-making was underwhelming. I have zero doubts that Stokes is going to put up impressive numbers wherever he goes. I just hope it’s to a program that can get him to focus in on doing all of the little things consistently on both ends.
Jaxon Richardson – SG, Alabama, ESPN #17
Every time I see Jaxon Richardson, I come away feeling like Alabama is the absolutely perfect landing spot for him. Almost all of Richardson’s points came in transition or an off-ball role, which I loved. His ability to play with pace, recognize open pockets to exploit, move without the ball, crash the offensive glass, and maximize his athleticism in the open court was great. He even kept popping up doing the little things like making solid rotations, deflections, making the easy read, and tip-outs on rebounds that coaches fall in love with. He should fit right in with how Alabama likes to play.
Caleb Gaskins – SF, Miami, ESPN #10
I called one of Gaskins’s games earlier this year, and I could not have been more underwhelmed. This game was the total opposite of the one I called. Gaskins did a good job of staying engaged throughout and made significantly better decisions. I thought he played hard throughout and showed his two-way versatility. Aside from being a much-needed palate cleanser for myself, I loved some of the shiftiness Gaskins showed with the ball. He wasn’t overdribbling, but he showed encouraging footwork, handling, and balance. He and Shelton Henderson could cause opposing teams a lot of problems next year.
Quick Hits
· Taylen Kinney, PG, Kansas, ESPN #19 – Kinney got off to a scintillating start but faded midway through as his scoring and ball security fell off. He’s a fun player, but I’m curious to see what his consistency looks like.
· Brandon McCoy, PG, Undecided, ESPN #18 – McCoy played some of the best defense in this game and made some promising passing reads. His shot and scoring consistency need work, though.
· Cameron Williams, PF, Duke, ESPN #3 – Williams was pretty underwhelming and felt like one of the biggest victims of this type of game. I really liked how he rebounded, moved without the ball, and played some solid defense. His jumper was super erratic, though, and he looks like he’ll be mostly an off-ball contributor.
· Quinn Costello, PF, Michigan, ESPN #28 – Shooter. Need to see more.
· Arafan Diane, C, Houston, ESPN #20 – Diane was a load to deal with in the paint. He was impactful on the boards and as an at-rim finisher. His mobility has to get better, though, as he got cooked in the open floor a handful of times.
· JaShawn Andrews SF Arkansas ESPN #12 – Andrews was pretty fun. He has some legit scoring versatility and has a bit of an F-You attitude to his game (in a good way). He was at his best as an off-ball scorer, as some of the decision-making looked questionable. Another fun, dynamic wing headed to Arkansas.