High School Basketball Scouting: Standouts from the McDonald’s All American Game

All-Star games can often devolve into non-competitive shot-chucking. That wasn’t the case for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game, showcasing the brightest talent high school hoops has to offer.

It’s hard to glean useful scouting information from All-Star games, but we can learn some things, especially during a game as competitive as this one. Players can’t hide behind their scheme or teammates, and high-feel, dominant players often show themselves in some way. 

Let’s discuss some of the brightest standouts from the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game and what we can take away from their performances.

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Our top player in the 2025 class played like a future top pick against the best of his peers. Peterson led all scorers with 18 points, showcasing his off-dribble scoring mettle. But most of Peterson’s points came via offensive rebounds and transition, winning with sheer motor and energy.

Peterson’s scoring and creation tools are obvious. He was the best player in the game because of his ancillary stuff — rebounding, motor and defense. He’s one of the better guard defenders I’ve scouted at the high school level and thrived on defense in the All-American game.

His athleticism enables excellent defensive production, as Peterson flew in for big rim rotations, defended off of the ball and slid defending at the point of attack. Beyond his elite on-ball projection, he’s one of the more well-rounded guard prospects in recent memory. Peterson played like a future NBA superstar, which wasn’t surprising in the slightest.

Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

Despite scoring just five points, Brown’s handling, live dribble creation and vision looked like that of an NBA point guard. He dished out a game-leading five assists and could have notched quite a few more with better teammate luck. 

By my count, Brown finished the game with 11 potential assists, spraying passes to every area of the floor. He’s surgical with a live dribble, firing pocket passes with both hands, kicking out from his drives and passing through double teams.

mikel brown jr. put on a passing clinic in the mcdaag game, 11 potential assists by my count. he carved with a live dribble extending windows, threw passes with both hands and punished ball pressure

impressive performance from him, only one turnover too pic.twitter.com/q0dsg0nl0r

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) April 2, 2025

Brown didn’t score much in the game, but he’s a gifted, versatile 3-point shooter. That shotmaking talent, coupled with his playmaking juice, could help Brown develop into a lottery pick under Pat Kelsey at Louisville next year.

Nate Ament, F, Uncommitted

The nation’s top uncommitted prospect scored efficiently and defended with high energy en route to 12 points in the All-Star game. Ament is a rare offensive talent at 6’9, oozing shotmaking and live dribble creation potential. Smooth on-ball defense and lanky playmaking off-ball contribute to his two-way upside.

Ament must continue to bulk up and refine his decision-making on the ball, but there’s clear potential for him to develop into a two-way star. The buzz around his pending college decision wiil only intensify after this performance.

Tounde Yessoufou, F, Baylor

Yessoufou’s dominant intensity on defense will warm the hearts of scouts watching this game back. He wrecked on defense all night; the 6-foot-5 forward racked up five steals and a block, making life miserable for his opponents. Yessoufou’s length, explosion and instincts help him sit at the nail and stop drives and jump passing lanes for easy scores.

baylor commit tounde yessoufou wrecked on defense in the mcdaag en route to 5 steals and 1 block. he’s a frightening off-ball defender, mucking up offense at the nail and jumping passes all over the floor

high, high level defensive talent pic.twitter.com/KNKYZnWIrL

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) April 2, 2025

To end up as a high draft pick, Yessoufou must find an offensive role. He’s currently best as a power forward or center, lacking reliable perimeter skills. Even minor offensive development at Baylor could help his draft case, given the strength of his defense.

Isiah Harwell, G, Houston

Over the last year or two, Harwell made significant strides as an athletic and physical talent. That showed up against the best competition in the country, helping him wall up on defense and grab rebounds. His confidence shooting the ball let him sink a few impressive jumpers as well.

Harwell’s shotmaking at 6-foot-5 paired with his improved physical tools makes him a fascinating NBA prospect. I’d expect Kelvin Sampson to extract the best from Harwell at Houston and help him develop into the best version of himself.

Cayden Boozer, G, Duke

In unscripted settings like All-Star games, high feel players like Boozer often shine. His court sense popped off the tape, leading to four assists and plenty of heady off-ball plays. At 6-foot-4, Boozer’s passing feel and defensive instincts profile him as an intriguing off guard at the next levels.

Critically, Boozer flashed his off-dribble scoring, maneuvering to the rim a few times and splitting pick and rolls with a controlled dribble. His scoring aggression will be a key swing factor for his ultimate NBA projection, but Boozer’s size and high feel for the game offer a baseline to inspire excitement.