McDonald's All-American Game 2023 highlights, results: D.J. Wagner, Bronny James and Isaiah Collier shine

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Kyle Irving
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(The Sporting News Illustrations)

The McDonald's All-American Game puts the best high school players in the country under the spotlight and on Tuesday, they did not shy away from the moment.

The intensity at the Toyota Center in Houston felt more like a state championship game than it did an all-star exhibition game. Behind a dominant performance from Isaiah Collier (USC commit) and lights-out shooting from Bronny James (undeclared), the West led the East for the majority of the night.

In the second half, the East defense began to lock up and D.J. Wagner — the first-ever third-generation McDonald's All-American — led his team on a roaring comeback.

MORE: Meet D.J. Wagner, the third-generation NBA prospect set to make history

Wagner, a Kentucky commit, had all 19 of his points in the second half to lead the East to victory. He took home co-MVP honors alongside Collier, who finished with a game-high 25 points.

James put on a 3-point shooting clinic, going 5-for-8 from deep with 15 points.

If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, highlights and more from the 2023 McDonald's All-American Game.

SCOUTING REPORT: Why Bronny James is way better than you think

2023 McDonald's All-American Game score

Team 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final
East 26 25 27 31 109
West 34 26 25 21 106

McDonald's All-American Game 2023 results, highlights

Final: East 109, West 106

11:20 p.m.: D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) and Isaiah Collier (USC commit) are your co-MVPs of the McDonald's All-American Game — and rightfully so.

Wagner was the catalyst of the East's second-half comeback, scoring all 19 of his points after halftime. Collier led all scorers with 25 points. What a game that turned into.

Bronny James finished with 15 points, shooting the lights out from 3 by knocking down five of his eight attempts.

11:15 p.m.: Jared McCain (Duke commit)'s game-tying 3 was off the mark. The East pulls off a major comeback, defeating the West 109-106.

11:12 p.m.: WOW. Isaiah Collier (USC commit), who has been the best player on the floor tonight, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with the West trailing 107-106 with 12.6 seconds to play. The East grabbed the rebound and the West had to foul.

D.J. Wagner made both free throws, giving the East a 109-106 lead with eight seconds to play.

11:11 p.m.: A D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) fast break dunk off of a turnover gives the East a 107-106 lead with under a minute to play!

11:06 p.m.: We have ourselves a battle. D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) finishes a left-handed layup to give the East a two-point lead. Bronny James answers with a corner 3 to give the West a 106-105 lead with 1:15 to play.

James is shooting the lights, knocking down five of his eight 3-point attempts for 15 points.

11:02 p.m.: Aaron Bradshaw, go to work young fella! The Kentucky commit was working on the offensive glass, getting a tip-in to drop to give the East a 103-102 lead with two minutes remaining in the game.

11:00 p.m.: Isaiah Collier (USC commit) has been unstoppable. The No. 1 player in the class buries a 3-ball on an assist from Bronny James to put the West back out in front, 102-101, with under three minutes to go. Collier has a game-high 25 points.

10:58 p.m.: The East has taken the lead! The East has locked down on the defensive end with two Kentucky commits, D.J. Wagner and Justin Edwards, upping the intensity. The East leads the West 99-98 with 3:23 to play.

10:53 p.m.: The East isn't done yet! They've made another run, cutting the West's lead to just one point with under five minutes to play. Aden Holloway (Auburn commit) is leading the charge, knocking down a 3, coming up with a steal and hitting D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) for a fastbreak dunk.

10:52 p.m.: Jared McCain to Bronny James... for 3! McCain (Duke commit) dishes a sweet one-handed swing pass across the court to find James wide open for 3. James is now 4-for-5 from 3 and has 12 points on the night.

10:50 p.m.: Stephon Castle (UConn commit) is trying to keep the East alive, knocking down a 3 and getting a tough finish to go in traffic. The West lead the East 93-87.

End of third quarter: West 85, East 78

10:46 p.m.: The East went on a run to cut into the West's lead, but the West are still up after three quarters. Isaiah Collier (USC commit) is showing why he's the No. 1 player in this class, leading the way with 17 points for the West.

10:42 p.m.: Bronny James puts the clamps on D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit), coming up with a steal before hitting Isaiah Collier (USC commit) with a lead pass for a fastbreak dunk.

10:40 p.m.: The East is charging back! D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) has all eight of his points in the third quarter, leading his team back into this contest. The West remains in the lead, 83-78 with one minute left in the third.

10:37 p.m.: Here comes D.J. Wagner. The Kentucky commit (and No. 3 player in the class of 2023) was quiet in the first half but he's starting to heat up, knocking down a pair of 3s.

10:31 p.m.: Sean Stewart! The Duke commit — who took home the Slam Dunk Contest crown last night — throws down a vicious dunk on the fast break and gives the backboard an emphatic slap. The East is hanging around, still trailing 76-68 midway through the third quarter.

Halftime: West 60, East 51

10:01 p.m.: D.J. Wagner (Kentucky commit) comes up with an impressive stop on Jeremy Fears (Michigan State commit) in isolation to end the half. The West holds a nine-point lead, up 60-51 over the East after two quarters.

Isaiah Collier (USC commit) leads all scorers with 11 points for the West. Aden Holloway (Auburn commit) has 12 points to lead the East. Bronny James has nine points, shooting 3-for-4 from deep.

9:53 p.m.: Reed Sheppard (Kentucky commit) dishes a beautiful full-court pass to Isaiah Collier (USC commit) for an and-one to keep the West in front! Collier is the No. 1 player in the class of 2023.

9:50 p.m.: Kwame Evans! The 6-11, Oregon commit flashes some versatility taking it coast-to-coast for an and-one to bring the East within five. The East still trails the West 51-46.

9:45 p.m.: The West leads the East 47-39 with 4:42 left in the second quarter.

9:40 p.m.: Bronny James is feeling it from 3-point range. The undeclared prospect is 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, up to nine points on the night.

9:37 p.m.: Omaha Biliew (Iowa State commit) shows his ability to stretch the floor as a 6-9 power forward, splashing a 3 on the West's first possession of the second quarter.

End of first quarter: West 34, East 26

9:33 p.m.: Aden Holloway (Auburn commit) has carried the East back into this game. He's up to 10 points to lead his squad, knocking down a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. The West leads the East 34-26.

Isaiah Collier (USC commit) has 10 points to lead the West. Bronny James has six points on a pair of 3-pointers.

9:25 p.m.: Another 3-ball for Bronny James, who is 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. He has the West up 28-15 on the East with under three minutes to play in the first quarter.

9:19 p.m.: Bronny James checked into the game and immediately got on the board! James knocked down a corner 3 on his first shot attempt of the game.

9:17 p.m.: The West is bringing it to the East early on, up 16-6 with 5:37 to play in the first quarter. Isaiah Collier (USC commit) and Jared McCain (Duke commit) are taking it to the East defense with a couple tough finishes inside.

9:12 p.m.: We're underway at the Toyota Center!

How to watch 2023 McDonald's All-American Game

This year's McDonald's All-American Game will air on ESPN. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

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2023 McDonald's All-American Game date, time

  • Date: Tuesday, March 28
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT

The 2023 McDonald's All-American Game will tip off around 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 28. The game will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston.

McDonald's All-American Game rosters 2023

McDonald's All-American Game East roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Xavier Booker Cathedral (IN) C 6-10 Michigan State
Aaron Bradshaw Camden (NJ) C 7-0 Kentucky
Matas Buzelis Sunrise Christian (KS) SF 6-9 G League Ignite
Stephon Castle Newton (GA) PG 6-6 UConn
Justin Edwards Imhotep (PA) SF 6-7 Kentucky
Kwame Evans Montverde (FL) PF 6-9 Oregon
Aden Holloway Prolific Prep (CA) PG 6-1 Auburn
Elmarko Jackson South Kent School (CT) SG 6-3 Kansas
Mackenzie Mgbako Roselle Catholic (NJ) PF 6-8 Duke
Sean Stewart Montverde (FL) PF 6-8 Duke
D.J. Wagner Camden (NJ) PG 6-2 Kentucky
Cody Williams Perry (AZ) SF 6-7 Colorado

 

McDonald's All-American Game West roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Omaha Biliew Waukee Senior (IA) PF 6-9 Iowa State
Isaiah Collier Wheeler (GA) PG 6-4 USC
Mookie Cook Compass Prep (AZ) SF 6-7 Oregon
Baye Fall Accelerated Schools (CO) C 6-11 Arkansas
Jeremy Fears Joilet West (IL) PG 6-2 Michigan State
Brandon Garrison Del City (OK) C 6-9 Oklahoma State
Ron Holland Duncanville (TX) PF 6-8 Texas
Bronny James Sierra Canyon (CA) PG 6-3 Undeclared
Jared McCain Centennial (CA) SG 6-3 Duke
Reed Sheppard North Laurel (KY) SG 6-2 Kentucky
Andrej Stojakovic Jesuit (CA) SF 6-7 Stanford
Ja'Kobe Walter Link Academy (MO) SG 6-5 Baylor
Author(s)
Kyle Irving Photo
Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.