CHICAGO — Before their college careers begin this fall, the 2016 McDonald’s All-Americans lit up the United Center on Wednesday night. Thanks to a pair of “Jacksons,” the West All-Americans emerged victorious.
Unrelated teammates Frank Jackson and Josh Jackson were named Co-MVPs as the West team topped the East team 114-107 in the 39th McDonald’s All-American Game.
Both players scored 19 points, with Frank Jackson shooting 5-7 from deep. Josh Jackson added 19 points of his own, going 9-11 from the field.
“I think we played well together,” the Duke-bound Frank Jackson said on ESPN. “We were unselfish. We got out and had some fun. Threw a couple lobs and got the crowd going a little bit.”
Josh Jackson, who will announce soon for Arizona, Kansas or Michigan State, is the projected No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com. He showed why in this game.
“First of all, it was just an honor be here,” he said. “I’ve been watching this game for many years and it just feels good to finally have my opportunity to play in this game. And I was just coming out trying to get a win. And Thank God for Lonzo Ball, I mean UCLA they got one heck of a player.”
In the sixth consecutive year that the game was played at the United Center, the two teams got up and down the floor in a hurry. In a night full of emphatic dunks, pull-up threes and highlight reel alley-oops, the West team led nearly the entire way and hung on for the win in the final minutes.
Kentucky had four commits play in the game, the most of any school. Big man Bam Adebayo had an impressive game, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 boards. Sacha Killeya-Jones, another UK center commit, had six points and two rebounds.
Kentucky’s future backcourt also made some plays on Wednesday. Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox finished with 13 combined points and 11 assists. Monk had a couple of jaw-dropping drives to the rim.
Duke commit Jayson Tatum lead the East with 18 points while Arizona-bound guard Kobi Simmons had 12. Markelle Fultz, Tony Bradley, Jr. and Terrance Ferguson also scored in double figures.
The biggest standouts were Frank and Josh Jackson, however.
There was no shortage of highlights on either side. East forward and Michigan State commit Miles Bridges had a breakaway windmill dunk that got the crowd into it in the first half, and future UConn guard Alterique Gilbert finished with a couple of flashy alley-oop finishes.
NBefore their college careers begin this fall, the 2016 McDonald’s All-Americans lit up the United Center on Wednesday night. Thanks to a pair of “Jacksons,” the West All-Americans emerged victorious.
