If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced in January after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Nate Oats how he likes having 2022 honoree Brandon Miller at Alabama! Kentucky seems to be the big winner so far as Coach John Calipari will have a quartet of 2023 honorees joining him in Lexington next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jared McCain about being named a McDonald’s All-American and going for the 3-peat.
You helped lead your Centennial High School team to state championships during each of the past 2 years: is it harder to win a title or defend a title, and do you think you will make it 3 in a row this spring? It is harder to win a title. Once we won the 1st 1 we knew what it took to win and what to expect the following season. I do feel that we will 3-peat this year because we have some great players/coaches.
You received offers from several great schools including Gonzaga/Houston but signed with Duke last March: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Blue Devils will go in March? It was based on the playing style and the platform that I can play on. The coaching staff (including Coach Jon Scheyer) has always been there for me. I think they will win the national title this year: their record does not matter.
You are 6’3”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I can play either guard spot. My game has definitely transitioned to more of a PG but if someone else is hot then I can play SG instead.
You are part of a great recruiting class that includes Mackenzie Mgbako/Sean Stewart: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such great players? I got to meet them at a bunch of different basketball camps and we have created a good bond. I am really excited to play with them because they all bring something special to the table.
Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That has been a goal of mine since I 1st learned about the McDonald’s Game back when Collin Sexton was in it several years ago. Kobe/LeBron/KD have all played in it before so it is surreal for me to finally make it.
2 of your fellow honorees (Stephon Castle/Brandon Garrison) joined you last summer on team USA at the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship in Mexico: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? That is a different type of feeling. I was so excited just to make the team. It was like “American Idol”: you have to perform and then you get judged. Some guys stayed and some guys had to leave the room. Playing with 3 guys who are potential lottery picks this summer (Anthony Black/GG Jackson/Cam Whitmore) was crazy. My uniform/gold medal are both framed in my bedroom.
There are 2 other players from California who were selected (Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James/Carmichael Jesuit’s Andrej Stojakovic): have you had a chance to play with/against either of them in the past? Andrej and I actually went to the same middle/elementary school in Sacramento so I played with him a lot in the past. I have not played with Bronny but have gotten to know him while we attended some camps together.
You have a 4.0 GPA: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I find it pretty easy: my parents have instilled in me since I was young that academics come 1st.
You have around 2 million TikTok followers and some of your video dance performances have been viewed more than 15 million times: what role does social media play in your life? People think it plays a bigger role than it actually does because I post a lot. It can be toxic at times but I have always had fun dancing.
You have your own clothing brand as well as 1 of the highest NIL valuations of any high school basketball player, which has allowed you to sign deals with Champs Sports, Lemon Perfect, and Crocs: what have you been doing with all of that money?! Just saving it: I am not trying to do too much with it now but will still bless my family when I can.