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LeBron James played in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American game 20 years ago. Now, his eldest son, Bronny James, will play in the same game on Tuesday, March 28, at the Toyota Center in Houston.
The Sierra Canyon senior guard, who’s averaging 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season, will be the fifth Trailblazer in program history to be selected as a McDonald’s All-American, which was announced Tuesday afternoon on ESPN’s NBA Today.
The previous four selectees came in the last three seasons (and in pairs). Ziaire Williams and Brandon Boston Jr. were selected in 2020. Amari Bailey and Kijani Wright were selected last season (2022). Marvin Bagley III would’ve likely been a selection in 2018 as the No. 1 recruit in the country, but he reclassified in 2017 and left early as a high school junior to play at Duke.
Sierra Canyon girls basketball player Juju Watkins, the No. 1-rated prospect in the country signed to play at USC, was also selected.
Bronny’s selection comes with a splash of controversy surrounded by the notion that his inclusion in the prestigious event is because of his father and not because of his own merit. Bronny’s final three college choices have been reported to be Ohio State, Oregon and USC despite Oregon not having offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-3 guard. LeBron James was asked about that Sunday night after the Lakers’ win in Portland over the Trail Blazers.
“Dana knows,” James told Bill Oram of The Oregonian. “He knows the interest. And it’s mutual. I think Bronny can go to any college he wants to.”
“All I have to do is pick up the phone,” he continued. “If Bronny says he wants to go there, he’s good enough.”
Bronny is ranked 28th overall in the 2023 ESPN recruiting class and higher than local Duke commit Caleb Foster, who was not chosen for the McDonald’s All-American Tuesday. Fellow Californians Jared McCain of Corona Centennial and Sacramento Jesuit High’s Andrej Stojaković, whose father also played in the NBA, were selected to play in the game.
