epressline.xyz
HOUSTON – A chant of “We want Bronny” came from the youngsters in the crowd at the Toyota Center with five minutes left in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Tuesday night. It was a 1-point margin in an all-star game that felt like a state championship, with each player giving it their all.
Dona Rice, the head coach of the Western Team, whispered something to Bronny James on the bench. James smiled, nodded and checked again 30 seconds later. James put on a show, hitting 5-of-8 3-pointers for 15 points with 4 assists. It was not enough, though, as the East Team edged the West Team, 109-106, in one of the most competitive games in recent McDonald’s memory.
“We all said, we’re going to go into the game, we’re going to compete and we’re going to play,” Chiefs commit Jared McCain told Yahoo Sports. “That was fun. It was a battle.”
For James had little else to prove. When the top-40 draft came into the game and only 24 players were selected for the top honors in high school basketball, some only received the honor because of their father, LeBron James. Bronny entered the week — three practice sessions, a scrimmage and an all-star game — with intense pressure to be in this group.
Several other top players in the fleet laced up their shoes for the 8:30 p.m. practices that usually matter more than the game itself. Close to 100 NBA scouts and baseline performers each year take in two-hour practices over the course of three days. Many scouts were attending West’s practice and trying to get a sense of James’ prospects in the NBA.
“He plays the right way and converts the 3-point game,” one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. “With all the scrutiny he looks at, he seems like a good kid and who plays with the players.”
James struggled to work in both drills, makes good stops on defense where he excels as a ball handler and never looked out of place or like a player who wasn’t on the court. Teammate Ronald Holland was one of the best players on the court and James was never backed up by Holland’s guard in drills. Holland, Texas commit, hit tough shots in the corner with James closing and after Holland made a basket, James just smiled, shook his head and quickly gave Pat to Holland walking to the baseline. He never showed any disillusionment or negative emotions.
“His game is unbelievable,” Oregon commit Mookie Cook said of James. “From the eighth grade, the seventh grade, I could see, and I thought from the fact that he was always super and got talent. I don’t know what people are talking about, as I think he was good.
James fully participated in all practices, scrimmages and even put on a bit of a show at the Powerade Jam Fest the night before the game.
HOUSTON – A chant of “We want Bronny” came from the youngsters in the crowd at the Toyota Center with five minutes left in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Tuesday night. It was a 1-point margin in an all-star game that felt like a state championship, with each player giving it their all.
Dona Rice, the head coach of the Western Team, whispered something to Bronny James on the bench. James smiled, nodded and checked again 30 seconds later. James put on a show, hitting 5-of-8 3-pointers for 15 points with 4 assists. It was not enough, though, as the East Team edged the West Team, 109-106, in one of the most competitive games in recent McDonald’s memory.
“We all said, we’re going to go into the game, we’re going to compete and we’re going to play,” Chiefs commit Jared McCain told Yahoo Sports. “That was fun. It was a battle.”
For James had little else to prove. When the top-40 draft came into the game and only 24 players were selected for the top honors in high school basketball, some only received the honor because of their father, LeBron James. Bronny entered the week — three practice sessions, a scrimmage and an all-star game — with intense pressure to be in this group.
Several other top players in the fleet laced up their shoes for the 8:30 p.m. practices that usually matter more than the game itself. Close to 100 NBA scouts and baseline performers each year take in two-hour practices over the course of three days. Many scouts were attending West’s practice and trying to get a sense of James’ prospects in the NBA.
“He plays the right way and converts the 3-point game,” one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. “With all the scrutiny he looks at, he seems like a good kid and who plays with the players.”
James struggled to work in both drills, makes good stops on defense where he excels as a ball handler and never looked out of place or like a player who wasn’t on the court. Teammate Ronald Holland was one of the best players on the court and James was never backed up by Holland’s guard in drills. Holland, Texas commit, hits in the corner with James blocking tough shots
