Live from Brooklyn: Scouting the Future of the NBA at the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game
Featuring standout performances from A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and more of the 2026 NBA Draft’s top prospects.
BROOKLYN, NY — The McDonald’s All-American Game has long been one of the crown jewels of the high school basketball calendar. More than just a showcase, it’s a glimpse into the future—a stage where the next wave of NBA talent begins to separate itself from the rest. And with the 2026 NBA Draft already shaping up to be one of the deeper and more talent-rich classes in recent memory, this year’s event in Brooklyn offered no shortage of intrigue.
I made the trip out to Barclays Center with one purpose in mind: to get eyes on the kids I’ll be tracking, writing about, and dissecting over the next twelve to eighteen months. The headliners are well-established—BYU commit A.J. Dybantsa, Duke-bound Cameron Boozer, and Kansas signee Darryn Peterson have all carved out early real estate in the No. 1 pick conversation. And to their credit, each had stretches in this game where they looked the part.
These are my takeaways from a few days in Brooklyn—attending Sunday’s practice and watching the game Tuesday night—highlighting the players who stood out, how they performed, and what it all might mean for the road to the 2026 NBA Draft.