Scouting Notes: 2025 McDonald's All American Game
Live notes from the 2025 McDonald's All American boys game featuring thoughts on AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson, Tounde Yessoufou, Caleb Wilson, Chris Cenac, Alijah Arenas...
BROOKLYN, NY — I was at Barclays Center for the 2025 McDonald’s All American games.
Here is an assortment of notes on the high school class of 2025, with plenty of 2026 NBA Draft prospects — including the three potentially generational frontrunners to go No. 1 in AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson.
Nate Ament (Undecided)
“If anyone can compete against the Dybantsa-Boozer-Peterson top three — in some order — it might be Nate Ament. The 18-year-old Virginia native stands around 6-foot-9 and moves very fluidly while having projectable shooting and ballhandling outcomes. Ament has to keep refining his game, but he seems like a dribble/pass/shoot prospect while also looking the part in terms of positional dimensions. Ament, who scored 12 points on Tuesday night and caught the eye of NBA personnel all event long, is yet to make a college decision.” (Wilko Martínez-Cachero for Nets On SI)
“To be perfectly honest, he was the prospect who captivated me the most. It helps that I had not watched Ament live yet, but he really causes an impression with his touch, mobility, and feel. Ament’s scoring was my favorite part of his game, but I also thought he played with a solid sense of where to be and when to move the ball. Thinking about comparisons, Ament reminded me a little bit of Matas Buzelis with his lanky frame, unorthodox playmaking, and shooting at his size and position.” (for the FLOOR and CEILING YouTube)
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Cameron Boozer (Duke)
“An ultra-efficient forward with an incredible track record of winning at the high school level. Earlier in his career, Boozer was more of an at-rim bully who used his superior strength and frame to finish everything at the basket. In recent years, he’s developed into more of a face-up threat who can also push the ball in transition, attack the rim in the half-court and create his own shot from the perimeter. Boozer faces some questions over whether he’s a 4 or a 5-man at the next level, and he doesn’t have the same level of run-and-jump athleticism as Dybantsa or Peterson, but his two-way production is undeniable. The Duke commit was one of the game’s co-MVPs after a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double.” (for Nets On SI)
From Jan. 2023: “Insanely complete for a high school sophomore.”
From July 2024: “Gets to his spot[s] and draws the contact to get to the free throw line. So tough to contain at all levels and keep him away from the paint. Plus, he can make his free throws at a great clip.”
AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
“A rangy, primary initiating wing who gets to the rim at will and has come on leaps and bounds as a shooter and passer. […] Dybantsa reclassified to the high school class of 2025 to play college basketball next year, where he’ll make his case at BYU to be the No. 1 pick in 2026.” (for Nets On SI)
“Before going to Utah Prep, Dybantsa also played for Prolific Prep. The 18-year-old wing, probably a little taller than 6-foot-9, uses his fluid strides and long arms to penetrate defenses and score at the basket with top-tier athleticism. Dybantsa has rounded out his game in recent years, fleshing out his playmaking, but he’s still dependable for a bevy of huge dunks.
“At his best, Dybantsa can blend Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s deceleration and pull-up with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ground coverage. […] Dybantsa had a subdued McDonald’s All American game, but still finished with 17 points, five rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes.” (Wilko Martínez-Cachero for The Sporting Tribune)
“Projects as a volume shooter, rather than as an efficient one. The variation on his misses can be wild at times — there are shots where he won’t even hit the rim — but he won’t stop shooting. There are clear three-level scoring flashes worth buying stock in, especially since he’s already effective at getting to his spots using his handle and physical tools.” (for The Sporting Tribune in April 2024)
From April 2023: “Super impressed by 5⭐ wing/guard AJ Dybantsa (2026, Expressions Elite-MA), especially with how he can operate off few dribbles. Born in 2007, he's doing this playing u17s.”
Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
“A silky smooth shooter with suave athleticism that makes it seem like he’s gliding in the air when going up for a dunk. He was the other co-MVP of the All-American boys’ game. The rising Kansas freshman plays similarly to a bouncier Damian Lillard and his 18 points felt effortless.
Peterson had 58 points against Dybantsa earlier this year, as well as 33 on Boozer, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he ended up as 2026’s No. 1 pick despite maybe currently lacking their name recognition.” (for Nets On SI)
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Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor)
“Impressed and stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, six steals and one block in 19 minutes. The Baylor commit, currently at Santa Maria St. Joseph, drew comparisons to Anthony Edwards because of his thick frame and twitch that he uses to create two-way events. The Sporting Tribune first evaluated Yessoufou in 2022, when he was largely an athletic dunker. Now, he’s a powerful slasher who comes up with creative passes and flashes, but needs to keep improving his three-point shot.” (for The Sporting Tribune)
“So impressed by Baylor commit Tounde Yessoufou’s development compared to the first time I saw him in 2022. He has me buzzing after last night…” (via wilkomcv)
From September 2022: “Dunked everything. The shot is developing still, but the flashes are there and he's not a non-shooter. Had 28 points in the final.”
Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
“A defensive-minded forward not too far away from a Jonathan Isaac type of player.” (for Nets On SI)
What I love the most is his defensive versatility and output. I’ve watched Wilson snuff out really talented players in just about any setting. I really think that this is going to carry over to Carolina, although I haven’t loved their program as a destination for top prospects in recent memory.
That said, I genuinely believe that Wilson is good enough to buck that trend. For example, I’m evaluating him higher than Drake Powell or Ian Jackson at a similar stage for them last year. Wilson has top 5 upside for the 2026 NBA Draft, and I think that he’ll remain in the top 10.
The important thing will be fleshing out his offense and making sure that he can score reliably in addition to creating plenty of defensive events.
From July 2024: “Walls off Tyran Stokes, then blocks AJ Dybantsa. He's had an awesome game on defense. Great Peach Jam in general for Wilson.”
From August 2024: “Add these shotmaking flashes for Caleb Wilson on top of his constant defensive impact+motor.”
Alijah Arenas (USC)
“A natural scorer [who] did just that in spurts, dropping 11 points in 13 minutes. However, Arenas also seemed to struggle at times with the increased physicality that came against competing against the very top of his class. It will be interesting to see how he fares in college basketball as a freshman, because the future Trojan needs to keep working on his body. Arenas isn’t a surefire one-and-done prospect, but he has the upside to be.” (for The Sporting Tribune)
“Here, it’s also worth mentioning that he’s played his high school basketball at Chatsworth, which doesn’t have as competitive of a schedule compared to other top prospects.” (for the FLOOR and CEILING YouTube)
From April 2023: “Had an awesome freshman season at Chatsworth HS, so it's not surprising that he's having a nice USAB camp. Rangy and relatively polished scorer who's already used to being the man for his team.”
From August 2023: “Walking bucket. Part of a stacked class of 2026, so plenty of time to keep rounding out his game.”
Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston)
“A versatile 4-man who can face-up, post-up, rebound and handle, but who needs more night-to-night consistency.” (for Nets On SI)
“A legitimate playmaker and can push the ball out of defensive rebounds and drive to the rim out of face-ups in the post. He has wiggle for a 6-foot-10 forward and then some pop finishing at the basket. All of that, combined with some flashes of a jumper, means he should be monitored. There is room for Cenac's to improve his defensive skills. He can take plays off, but at this level, he can still use his size to alter drives and close out possessions through rebounds.” (for The Sporting Tribune in April 2024)
“Active rebounder with solid positional size at the next level, a frame that’ll fill out, and good hands that he can even use to grab & go a little right now.” (via wilkomcv)
Brayden Burries (Undecided)
“A slash-first, heady guard who is choosing between Alabama, Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee and USC for college.” (for Nets On SI)
“He’s very physical, which bodes well for his future, but seemed a bit rushed on Tuesday night. Burries finished with six points on 3-for-8 shooting and one assist compared to two turnovers.” (for The Sporting Tribune)
“Tough to stop with his physical, hard-nosed slashing and tough finishes at the rim. He also made some pick-and-roll reads, while making self-created jumpers from the midrange and out to 3-pointers.” (for The Sporting Tribune in April 2024)
From July 2023: “Lots of guys I’m fairly high on in SFG’s 16-U team. Brayden Burries, Kiyan Anthony (playing with the team on this occasion), Bryce Cofield, Bryce James…”
Meleek Thomas (Arkansas)
“A super creative ball handler who plays that loose style of basketball that you might see from Rob Dillingham or LaMelo Ball. It’s pretty fitting that Thomas comes from the Overtime Elite pipeline, and that his next program will be Arkansas under John Calipari. I love how creative Thomas is, and he can make some ridiculous shots and plays off the bounce.” (for the FLOOR and CEILING YouTube)
“Needs to tame his wildest instincts as a point guard.” (for Nets On SI)
From January 2025: “Electrifying ballhandler […] and a future NBA guard.”
Isiah Harwell (Houston)
“Really sprung to life in the second half, finishing with 16 points in 18 minutes. Suffered a bad ACL injury as a junior in high school, but his stock is climbing up again, and he can play his way back into being a lottery pick.
Had an athletic tip dunk at one point, and he was also efficient hitting his spot-ups and pull-ups. […] Might be one of the more slept-on incoming freshmen.” (for the FLOOR and CEILING YouTube)
Niko Bundalo (Washington)
“Probably has the least upside of any prospect mentioned so far, but his floor seems fine. I previously watched him at the Adidas EuroCamp. In this game, he was fairly active on the inside to finish plays and clean up around the rim. Bundalo has also shown spot-up flashes at previous levels worth monitoring.” (for the FLOOR and CEILING YouTube)
“Had a muddled recruitment process that ended in a commitment to Washington.” (for The Sporting Tribune)
Extra notes…
Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville):
Love his creativity as a ballhandler and passer. Speed on-ball stands out.
Super skinny still. Upper body is more noticeable because of how he gets to the rim and then has to play through contact, but legs are also very thin. Plays tough, however.
Good stage to shine in college.
Cayden Boozer (Duke):
“Always so impressed by Cayden Boozer's pace and maturity.” (from Oct. 2022)
Playmaking and pace is always so sturdy. Underrated guard with how he organizes his team and stays productive. Not overly high on him, but think he’s slept on a bit. Also has very decent size.
Malachi Moreno (Kentucky):
Good positional size. Frame is on the narrow side, but not stick-thin. Can fill out okay.
Solid instincts around the rim. Had a decent second half that caught my eye.
Nikolas Khamenia (Duke):
“Should become a fan favorite at Duke with his motor, feel and overall production.” (for The Sporting Tribune)
Koa Peat (Arizona):
Didn’t play after fracturing his right hand at the end of his season. Played through injury to win state championship. Had a protection over that hand.
The touch from Klutch Sports to congratulate their All-Americans was nice.
Shon Abaev (Cincinnati):
“Growth keeps impressing me. He’s gonna be worth tracking at Cincy.” (from Jan. 2025)