Are mcds all Americans becoming less coveted?

[Wall2Boogie]

in honor of bcg landing his most important recruit based solely on location, are mcds all Americans getting less talented? When we landed Patterson you would of though it was lebron. He came in a played like a stud from day 1. I know that class was loaded and I know that we have gotten some major mcds all American l studs, but does it seem like the talent level has kind of fallen off as well as some of the allure? Guys like briscoe, skj, or even Richards this yr we would be celebrating like we just hit the lottery and now it's like we are glad we got them but we don't expect much out of them in their first yr. why is that? Is it solely based on talent level in the class? Since cal has gotten here the majority of them have been as advertised and it's not just here other schools get them as well and they don't always have the immediate impact we expect them to have. Why is that? Just curious on your thoughts on all Americans today?

 

[bthaunert]

The McDonald All American game was big time back in the day. Outside of that game and the Capital Classic, you depended on Street and Smith magazine and Scholastic Sports America to figure out who the top guys were. Being a Parade All-American was also a huge honor. I couldn't wait to get the Sunday paper that had the parade insert with the All American team. It was just totally different. Hell, I had to listen to Van Earl Wright on CNN Headline Sports at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour to get updated scores. High school games being on national TV now and being able to watch clips and such online...all of that plays a big role in the game itself losing it's luster. We used to know how good a high school player was based on Parade, Street and Smith and if they made the MAA game. Now we have rankings at our fingertips.

 

[WildMoon]

they are highly coveted.

Briscoe was great in 2 years here.
SKJ will be great next year and so on.
Richards will be great.

I am celebrating.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

I don't know if it's the ranking system or if guys today are just a tad overrated. I don't know if skj would of been an all American had he not chose ky, and let's be honest Bragg was no where near all American status. Is seems like some of the best guys with the exception of some are ranked anywhere from 30-90. Sure they may not have an immediate impact, but after two years some are nba ready. Nothing against nick Richards as I'm sure he will be good after a few years but 10 years ago we would be ecstatic and wouldn't even be thinking about bamba. Now we are glad to have him but we don't expect him much like skj to have an immediate impact

 

[Smashcat]

McD A-As have always had their share of flops. Duke has had many and UK had a big percentage of kids who did't pan out pre-Pitino.

 

[mj2k10]

You have to differentiate within the 5 star category, which way, way, way, way too many people don't do.

When you sign someone like Monk or Fox, you can reasonably expect to get an elite player. Both of them are guys an NBA team would have been willing to draft out of HS, probably in the first round, if that was still an option.

When you sign Nick Richards, PJ Washington, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Quade Green? Much harder to tell what you're really getting. The only one of them that would probably be drafted right now is Richards, and that would be on size and atheltic potential far more than current ability.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

The McDonald All American game was big time back in the day. Outside of that game and the Capital Classic, you depended on Street and Smith magazine and Scholastic Sports America to figure out who the top guys were. Being a Parade All-American was also a huge honor. I couldn't wait to get the Sunday paper that had the parade insert with the All American team. It was just totally different. Hell, I had to listen to Van Earl Wright on CNN Headline Sports at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour to get updated scores. High school games being on national TV now and being able to watch clips and such online...all of that plays a big role in the game itself losing it's luster. We used to know how good a high school player was based on Parade, Street and Smith and if they made the MAA game. Now we have rankings at our fingertips.

This is the life I lived. I still have Street and Smith yearbooks dating back to the 60's and even have a Parade Magazine clipping or two. Today we are in an entirely different world.

I am at the point in my life now that I am going to down size and get rid of the hundreds of magazines I have used as reference material all of these years. They are in mint condition including my Cawood Ledford magazines. Still have magazines when Jerry, West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas were in college. Even our very own Billy Ray Lickert. This was before McDonalds was even a well known drive in.

 

[51stFan]

Video editing has also took some of the allure away from it. These mixtapes that come out can pretty much make anyone that can dunk a basketball look like the next coming of MJ. You really dont know what you are getting as a fan until they start playing.

 

[Mr_GG]

I think it just depends on the strength of the class and I also its harder to get excited about getting a McDonald all-American when you get 4-5 every year. Its also hard to get excited unless you know they're like a Wall, Davis, Cousins, etc. level recruit.

 

[Thompkins4uk]

I don't know if it's the ranking system or if guys today are just a tad overrated. I don't know if skj would of been an all American had he not chose ky, and let's be honest Bragg was no where near all American status. Is seems like some of the best guys with the exception of some are ranked anywhere from 30-90. Sure they may not have an immediate impact, but after two years some are nba ready. Nothing against nick Richards as I'm sure he will be good after a few years but 10 years ago we would be ecstatic and wouldn't even be thinking about bamba. Now we are glad to have him but we don't expect him much like skj to have an immediate impact

Skj is 7 foot and has skills like a guard. Rankings are on potential. Skj has to get bigger and stronger and he must adjust to the physical play of college basketball.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Skj is 7 foot and has skills like a guard. Rankings are on potential. Skj has to get bigger and stronger and he must adjust to the physical play of college basketball.

Yeah I get all that and yes I believe he will be a contributor in the near future. My only question is has the lure of mcds all Americans kind of worn off especially since cal got here and we always have so many. At one time an all American was as good as a starting senior that's not so much the case anymore. Is this due to the talent just not being what it used to be or is it something else that's my question?