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Tom Petrini: Mitch Johnson on getting to know Steph Castle: "A lot of times I think as coaches we ignorantly get a player and then it's like their book starts and there's so much history that you can learn about a player and a person before they get to you, and so when you look back at his time, whether it's being coached by Coach Hurley, whether that's how he's raised in his household by his mother and father, whether that's him playing off the ball and sacrificing maybe some of the on-ball opportunities that he's more than capable of at Connecticut to join a national championship team to then win another national championship, a McDonald's All-American in high school that played with the basketball. When you start peeling back the layers, the toughness is there, the discipline and the structure is there, the understanding the value of a role is there, and it's showed itself in so many different ways, and so then once you get that young man who, because you drafted him, and as a player, as a person, you then get to build your own rapport with them, but it is really helpful to understand what people and players go through before they get to you, because if you take the time to understand that, and them, I do think it sets you up to have a successful onboarding process, and kind of rhythm as you get to know them early on, and I give a lot of credit to Brian Wright and his staff for that."
McDonald’s has been a longtime fixture in the basketball community and culture, now we’re stepping onto the court in a whole new way. Introducing the Nike Book 2 McDonald’s, a limited-edition sneaker designed by Devin Booker with nods to his basketball come-up, and his favorite Sedona *turquoise* Arches – with an exclusive pair available only via Nike Book 2 McDonald’s Friends & Family sweepstakes in the McDonald’s app with purchase of one of the new specialty drinks. The sneakers are a continuation of his signature shoe narrative and love for his home-state of Arizona, and trace Booker’s basketball journey – being a McDonald’s All American alum before becoming an all-star. The colorway takes inspiration from the McDonald’s restaurant in Sedona: the only location in the world with turquoise arches, rather than the standard Golden Arches, out of respect to the natural red rock scenery.
Royce O’Neal: I always believed I was an NBA player. I just needed the right opportunity, right chance. It's right about timing cuz when I was coming out, they didn't have like all the two contracts and all that. So it was just a draft and if you didn't get drafted and you were going to a training camp deal or whatever, trying to make a spot and each coming out, didn't get drafted. So, then played overseas, came back, had many camps, played summer league and the opportunity didn't pan out. So then go back overseas again, come back, then get the opportunity, play summer league, do well, and then sign with Utah. A lot of guys dream of being that McDonald's All-American high school, leading scorer, this and that, but everybody's path is different.
Arizona forward Carter Bryant will remain in the NBA draft , where he could be a lottery pick. Bryant told ESPN on Wednesday he’s “completely in” on the draft process following workouts at the NBA draft combine. A 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, Bryant had a solid freshman season at Arizona after being a McDonald’s All-American in high school. Bryant was a key reserve on a team that reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
There will be no Jump Men or Swooshes in Alijah Arenas' future ... Gilbert Arenas' high school basketball star son tells TMZ Sports he's signing a contract with Adidas!! The McDonald's All-American said out at LAX this week he's planning to follow in his dad's footsteps and ink an endorsement deal with the three stripes.
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Don Harris: Breaking News from the Uniform Czar. De'Aaron Fox has changed his mind. He will wear #4 in honor of his wife Recee'. San Antonio's own was a McDonald's All American at Johnson High School and wore #4 at Texas Tech.
Things worsened for Dominique Wilkins and his family once the McDonald’s All-American left the ACC. “First of all, if you were a great player in the state of North Carolina in those days, you don’t leave the ACC. It was like against the law to leave the ACC,” Wilkins said. “So, I signed a letter of intent with North Carolina State. The University of Georgia came out of nowhere. ... The thing is that I didn’t want to be compared to anyone. So when I made that decision, all hell broke loose. I got all F’s on my transcript, paint poured on my mom’s car, and I had a cross burning in my yard.”
This is where Cooper Flagg, the best high school basketball player in America, was raised. Cooper’s enrolling at Duke next season, before likely becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. At 17, the 6-foot-9 forward already has been named a McDonald’s All-American, the MVP of the annual NBA Players Association top-100 camp, and an all-star at the 2022 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, which he helped the United States win. A native Mainer hasn’t been drafted in 40 years, not since the New Jersey Nets selected Jeff Turner in 1984. Yet somehow, this town — “a place for people going other places,” as resident Earl Anderson calls it — has bred one of basketball’s brightest rising stars.
Immanuel Quickley on his trade to Toronto: “I’m still in a little bit of shock, if I’m being honest. I grew up here, in a way. When I first got drafted, I had just turned 21. I felt like I was a little kid. I still remember that first day at the practice facility. So when you get there you get a practice jersey, right? The blue team is the starting five. And then the white team is the next five. Then you have the green jerseys and black jerseys, and those guys probably aren’t going to play very much or have to work their way into the rotation. Guess what I got?? Man, they gave me a green. And listen, I’m straight. It’s all good. But you gotta understand, in my mind it’s like, I’ve gone from being a McDonald’s All-American to playing two years at Kentucky, winning SEC Player of the Year, first-round draft pick. And now I got on a green jersey. That was a wake-up call for me that I’ll never forget. It was humbling.“
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Jon Krawczynski: The Timberwolves have reached agreement with Trevor Keels on a contract for training camp, sources tell @TheAthletic. Keels is a former McDonald's All-American from Duke. He had a 2-way deal with the Knicks last season.
Los Angeles Lakers forward and former Houston-area McDonald’s All-American Jarred Vanderbilt held his 3rd annual Backpack Giveaway over the weekend, helping local students gear up for school.
Ramon Sessions was one of the best draft selections in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks. Sessions was the 56th pick in the 2007 draft and went on to have a productive 11-year NBA career. After his playing days, Sessions worked in the front office for the New Orleans Pelicans and is now a licensed sports agent. In this year’s draft, he repping Jordan Walsh, a McDonald’s All-American who played last season at Arkansas. Walsh is projected to be a late-first to early-second round pick in the June draft, if he opts to remain in the draft.
Bronny, the oldest son of LeBron James, committed to USC earlier this month, joining fellow McDonald’s All-American Isaiah Collier as part of a highly-touted recruiting class. In addition to DeRozan’s praise, George also spoke highly of Bronny’s talent and predicted he’d have success in the college game. “He’s got all the s--- that [LeBron James] got: high IQ, he’s athletic, he makes the right plays … I was amazed,” George said. “He’s got the personality, the charisma, he’s got the humbleness. ‘SC really got a good one.”