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Mcdonald's All-American Week Player Evaluations

Mcdonald's All-American Week Player Evaluations
Apr 05, 2013, 11:34 am
To kick off our coverage of the 2013 high school class all-star game circuit, we begin with prospects from the McDonald's All-American game who we haven't evaluated in the past year.

Isaiah Hicks, 6'8, Power Forward
Committed to North Carolina


Matt Williams



Though Isaiah Hicks (ESPN #17, Scout #20, Rivals #13) didn't stand out over the course of the week, he showed flashes of what type of player he may become down the road.

Standing 6'8 with a 6'11 wingspan, Hicks is a lanky power forward who makes an impact with his athleticism and energy. Hicks was at his best this week finishing on the break, often receiving the ball at the rim by himself after beating a lackadaisical defender down the floor. An explosive leaper, Hicks plays above the rim effortlessly and made some periodic plays on the offensive glass and as a shot blocker on the defensive end over the course of the week.

The key to Hicks reaching his potential moving forward will be his ability to improve his offensive skill level and add muscle to his rangy frame. He has all the athletic tools to impact the game with his hustle, but will need to develop a face-up game, jump shot, or post skills to take his game to the next level.

A bit of a blank slate on the offensive end at the moment, Hicks doesn't have many bad habits, and it will be interesting to see what his experience under Roy Williams will mold him into in a few years. His physical tools could make him a very interesting prospect down the road.


Demetrius Jackson, 6'1, Point Guard
Committed to Notre Dame


Matt Williams



The purest distributor among the point guards in attendance, Demetrius Jackson (ESPN #21, Scout #28, Rivals #30) stood out with his passing and leadership.

Standing 6'1, Jackson has solid size for a point guard and possesses the strength and speed to make a quick transition to the high-major level. A consummate floor general, Jackson looked first and foremost to use his ability to turn the corner and push the break to create opportunities for his teammates this week. Showing admirable unselfishness, Jackson displayed good court vision and sound decision-making as a passer.

Also capable of scoring the ball, Jackson has nice mechanics on his jump shot and is a threat from the perimeter both off the catch and off the dribble when given space. He'll need to continue improving his consistency to reach his potential at the NCAA level. The Indiana native's size is a limitation when he looks to finish around the basket, but his speed, strength, and body control allow him to take advantage on the occasions he can get a step to the rim.

With Eric Atkins entering his last year of eligibility, and Jerian Grant still in the fold, Jackson will get the chance to ease into a role with the Fighting Irish. It will be interesting to see how he fits in as a freshman and how he matures as a point guard before being handed the keys to Notre Dame's offense down the road.


Isaac Hamilton, 6'5, Shooting Guard
Committed to UTEP


Matt Williams



The younger brother of NBA player Jordan Hamilton and older brother of 2014 high school prospect Daniel Hamilton, Isaac Hamilton (ESPN #29, Scout #30, Rivals #16) had a fairly quiet weekend in Chicago, but flashed the perimeter scoring ability he's developed a reputation for.

Standing 6'5 with a 6'6 wingspan, Hamilton has decent size for a shooting guard and a skinny frame. A solid, albeit unspectacular athlete, Hamilton's lofty rankings are not the result of elite physical tools, but rather his ability to score in a variety of ways from the perimeter. A terrific set shooter whose mechanics are reminiscent of those of his older brother, Hamilton is a dangerous perimeter scorer.

The Los Angeles native can put points on the board in bunches with his jump shot, shooting the ball with fluidity in spot-up situations and when pull-up off the dribble. A solid ball-handler with an effective step-back move, Hamilton can be a bit streaky at times, is not the best finisher in traffic, and his shot selection isn't always ideal, but he does a solid job finding the open man when he attacks.

The St. John Bosco product should be able to pay dividends on the offensive end early in his career at UTEP. To reach his full potential, he will need to get stronger to make him a more effective slasher and finisher as well as bring more intensity to the defensive end.


Nigel Williams-Goss, 6'3, Point Guard
Committed to Washington


Matt Williams



Taking home the top spot in the 2013 McDonald's All-American game 3-point contest and running the point for the West in practice, Nigel Williams-Goss (ESPN #20, Scout #48, Rivals #61) proved to be one of the more steady and mature guards in attendance over the course of the week.

Standing 6'3 with a 6'7 wingspan, Williams-Goss has great size for the point guard position, but lacks elite speed and explosiveness. Possessing a fairly mature skill set –the byproduct of playing a key role for national powerhouse Findlay Prep in recent years– Williams-Goss compensates for his lack of blow-by speed with the ability to play at different speeds to keep his defender off balance, solid ball-handling ability, and budding playmaking ability on the pick and roll.

The Happy Valley, Oregon native is not a dominant offensive player, lacking the speed and creativity to score inside at will, but is an improved shooter who proves to be a crafty and opportunistic scorer inside the arc. He shows the ability to control tempo and was one of the more willing passers over the course of the week in Chicago, showing the type of leadership, versatility, and intensity on both ends that should help him pay dividends for Lorenzo Romar's Washington Huskies as a freshman.

With Abdul Gaddy graduating, Williams-Goss should see ample opportunity to showcase his scoring and passing ability next season. The one-time UNLV commit has no shortage of big game experience at the high school level, and though he lacks great athleticism, his skill and competitive streak makes him a player to keep an eye on down the road.


Additional McDonald's All-American Evaluations
Click through to read

West Team

Jabari Bird Salesian High, CA (Hercules, CA) - Cal
Aaron Gordon Archbishop Mitty, CA (San Jose, CA) - Arizona
Aaron Harrison William B. Travis, TX (Richmond, TX) - Kentucky
Andrew Harrison William B. Travis, TX (Richmond, TX) - Kentucky
Matt Jones DeSoto High, TX (DeSoto, TX) - Duke
Marcus Lee Deer Valley High, CA (Antioch, CA) - Kentucky
Jarell Martin Madison Prep, LA (Baton Rouge, LA) - LSU
Jabari Parker Simeon Career Academy, IL (Chicago, IL) - Duke
Bobby Portis, Jr. Hall High, AR (Little Rock, AR) - Arkansas
James Young Rochester High, MI (Rochester Hills, MI) - Kentucky

East Team

Anthony Barber Hampton, VA (Hampton, VA) - NC State
Keith Frazier Justin F. Kimball, TX (Dallas, TX) - SMU
Kasey Hill Montverde Academy, FL (Clemont, FL) - Florida
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Chester High, PA (Chester, PA) - Arizona
Dakari Johnson Montverde Academy, FL (New York, NY) - Kentucky
Kennedy Meeks West Charlotte, NC (Charlotte, NC) - North Carolina
Julius Randle Prestonwood Christian, TX (McKinney, TX) - Kentucky
Wayne Selden, Jr. Tilton School, NH (Roxbury, MA) - Kansas
Noah Vonleh New Hampton, NH (Haverhill, MA) - Indiana
Chris Walker Holmes County, FL (Bonifay, FL) - Florida
Andrew Wiggins Huntington Prep, WV (Thornhill, Ontario) - Undecided

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