Bronny James, DJ Wagner headline group of 2023 McDonald's All-Americans

While making a McDonald’s All-American roster does not guarantee you to be a draft pick, it most certainly does not hurt. The most prestigious high school basketball post-season all-star game, the McDonald’s All-American game, announced its 2023 rosters today, and a familiar name to the game, LeBron “Bronny” James, Jr., will be on the West team.

Twenty-four of the top players from across the country made the game, including nine of the top ten in the 2023 On3 Consensus. Nine players drafted in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft were named McDonald’s All-Americans, including each of the top three players drafted, Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith.

There is a long track record of highly successful players participating. Starting back in 1977, Basketball Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Dominque Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, and so many others proudly wore the golden arches across their chests.

The 2023 McDonald’s All-American game will take place in Houston on March 28. The girl’s game will tip off at 6:30 PM, and the boys will immediately follow at 9:00 PM.

Good bloodlines

An interesting story here is DJ Wagner. The five-star Kentucky signee is the grandson of Milt Wagner, who played in the 1981 game featuring Michael Jordan. Wagner’s dad, DaJuan Wagner, also played in the game in 2001. The Wagners are the first family with three generations to play in the McDonald’s All-American game.

Wagner is not the only legacy of the game. Bronny James is the son of LeBron James, who had 23 points in the 2003 game. Bronny is the only uncommitted player in the game.

While they did not play in the McDonald’s game, Andrej Stojakovic’s father, Peja, is a multi-year NBA All-Star and an NBA Champion. Cody Williams’ brother Jalen is in his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sean Stewart’s dad Michael played in the NBA for eight seasons, including four with the Toronto Raptors.

Where they’re headed

The usual suspects are reloading on the recruiting trail as traditional blue bloods Kentucky and Duke lead the way with four and three players, respectively, selected onto McDonald’s All-American rosters.

Kentucky, who had two players featured in last year’s game, had four this go around, led by 2023 On3 150 No. 1 Aaron Bradshaw. DJ Wagner, Reed Sheppard, and Justin Edwards also joined the 7-foot-0 center.

Duke, who had three recruits make the game last season, also had three on this year’s team. Mackenzie Mgbako, Jared McCain, and Sean Stewart got the nod for the 2023 group of players.

Oregon has two players who made the game with Kwame Evans, Jr. and Mookie Cook. Also, Michigan State fans will enjoy watching Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears on the roster.

Four-stars who made it

Looking through the roster, there are a number of players outside of the 2023 On3 Consensus five-star range who made the game. The On3 Consensus is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings evenly from all four major recruiting media services.

No. 22 PG Elmarko Jackson, South Kent (CT) South Kent School (Kansas)
No. 23 SF Mookie Cook, Chandler (AZ) AZ Compass (Oregon)
No. 30 PG Aden Holloway, Napa (CA) Prolific Prep (Auburn)
No. 31 PG Jeremy Fears, Joliet (IL) Joliet West (Michigan State)
No. 33 PG Bronny James, Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
No. 35 CG Reed Sheppard, North Laurel (KY) High (Kentucky)
No. 39 C Brandon Garrison, Oklahoma City (OK) Del City (Oklahoma State)

Dillingham deemed ineligible?

An official statement has not gone around surrounding this, but Kentucky signee Robert Dillingham’s name made the rounds a couple of weeks ago when he was not named a nominee for the game. The assumed reasoning is that the five-star guard attends Atlanta (GA) Overtime Elite, which is a non-traditional school that plays against professional basketball players.

There is still some confusion surrounding this decision, so the hope is the official word will soon provide some clarity.

Five-star snubs

There are 20 five-stars in the 2023 On3 Consensus, and 24 players made the McDonald’s All-American game roster. While the majority of five-stars will be playing, three did not make the list. One is the previously mentioned Robert Dillingham. The other two are Texas signee AJ Johnson from Los Angeles (CA) So Cal Academy and Duke signee Caleb Foster from Sherman Oaks (CA) Notre Dame.

Dillingham is No. 9 overall, Johnson is No. 14, and Foster is the No. 19 player in the 2023 class.

The 2023 McDonald’s All-American Rosters

East

Xavier Booker, Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral (Michigan State)
Aaron Bradshaw, Camden (NJ) High (Kentucky)
Matas Buzelis, Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Chrstian (G-League)
Stephon Castle, Covington (GA) Newton (UConn)
Justin Edwards, Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep (Kentucky)
Kwame Evans, Jr., Montverde (FL) Academy (Oregon)
Aden Holloway, Napa (CA) Prolific Prep (Auburn)
Elmarko Jackson, South Kent (CT) South Kent Academy (Kansas)
Mackenzie Mgbako, New Rochelle (NJ) Roselle Catholic (Duke)
Sean Stewart, Montverde (FL) Academy (Duke)
DJ Wagner, Camden (NJ) High (Kentucky)
Cody Williams, Perry (AZ) High (Colorado)

West

Omaha Biliew, Waukee (IA) Senior (Iowa State)
Isaiah Collier, Marietta (GA) Wheeler (Southern California)
Mookie Cook, Chandler (AZ) AZ Compass (Oregon)
Baye Fall, Denver (CO) Accelerated Prep (Arkansas)
Jeremy Fears, Joliet (IL) Joliet West (Michigan State)
Brandon Garrison, Oklahoma City (OK) Del City (Oklahoma State)
Ron Holland, Duncanville (TX) High (Texas)
Bronny James, Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Jared McCain, Corona (CA) Centennial (Duke)
Reed Sheppard, North Laurel (KY) High (Kentucky)
Andrej Stojakovic, Carmichael (CA) Joliet (Stanford)
Ja’Kobe Walter, Branson (MO) Link Academy (Baylor)