Meet the 2018 McDonald’s All-Americans, led by Duke’s superstar trio of recruits

For the first time in the history of the McDonald’s All-American Game, the top three players are all headed to the same school.

R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish, and Zion Williamson are the best players in the class of 2018. Rank them any way you want. Each are committed to Duke for next season. They’re also currently projected to go 1-2-3 in the 2019 NBA Draft by ESPN.

Throw in a fourth McDonald’s All-American — point guard Tre Jones, brother of former Duke star Tyus Jones — and this year’s game has a distinct feel of Duke vs. everyone else. It’s the fifth straight year Duke has brought in a top-two recruiting class, but this is an unprecedented level of incoming talent even for coach Mike Krzyzewski.

There are other players and schools represented in Atlanta this week, too. Kansas has three players in attendance in guards Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes and big man David McCormack. Oregon has the No. 2 recruiting class right now, led by a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in center Bol Bol and wing Louis King. North Carolina, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt each also have two players at the game.

The future stars of college basketball will be on display Wednesday from Phillips Arena when the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Game tips off. These are the players you need to know.

No program has landed the top three players in one recruiting class in the modern era. Duke just changed that.

R.J. Barrett is the most accomplished high school player in the world. The 6’6 wing just led Canada to the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup, a run that included a semifinal win over John Calipari’s USA squad. Barrett finished with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in that game, further establishing his reputation for performing his best on the biggest stages. The lefty is a force going to the rim, a capable passer, and a long-armed defender.

Cameron Reddish is a smooth 6’8 wing who can shine on or off the ball. Reddish honed his ball handling skills by playing point guard for Philadelphia high school powerhouse Westtown. He thrives as an off-the-dribble shooter, but comes complete with slashing ability and a good sense for finding teammates. His 7’1 wingspan doesn’t hurt, either. Paul George and Jimmy Butler have been thrown out as comparisons.

Zion Williamson is already more famous than half the NBA. At 6’6, 272 pounds, he’s one of the great dunkers in the history of high school basketball. He’s also an amazing rebounder and shot blocker. The jump shot is the big question for Williamson, which makes his future fit in the NBA even more complicated with the height of a shooting guard and the weight of a center. Duke will put him at the four and even the five, where he should be devastating against slower defenders.

Bol Bol is going to a phenom at Oregon next season. Yes, this is Manute Bol’s son, and yes, he’s awesome, ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the class by ESPN and Rivals.

Bol is 7’2 with a 7’8 wingspan, giving him the type of length that only Texas center Mohamed Bamba can match. Where three-point shooting felt like a novelty for his father, it’s the bedrock of Bol’s game. He hit 48.9 percent of his threes on 45 attempts in 15 games during play on Nike’s EYBL circuit this year. He’s also a great shot blocker when he’s locked in mentally on defense.

Romeo Langford finished high school as the state of Indiana’s fourth all-time leading scorer by putting up 3,000 career points. He’s a smooth 6’5 two guard who is considered the best three-point shooter in this class. Long (6’10 wingspan) and quick with great scoring instincts, Langford projects as an instant-impact offensive force at the college level.

He’s down to three schools: Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Kansas. He’d be hailed as a savior with the Hoosiers. At Vanderbilt, he’d join an upstart class that already includes two other All-Americans in point guard Darius Garland and big man Simisola Shittu. Kansas is already loaded on the perimeter before we officially know who is all coming back, but Langford is so talented that he’d demand big playing time regardless.

Kentucky has a pair of All-Americans in Immanuel Quickley (pictured above) and Keldon Johnson. Quickley is 6’4 point guard with length and athleticism who thrives getting to the basket both in transition and half-court sets. There are questions about the consistency of his three-point shot. Keldon Johnson is a 6’6 two-guard who can shoot and slash. John Calipari is also bringing in one-time Wisconsin commit Tyler Herro, a shooting guard who can stroke it from deep who just missed the cut for the McDonald’s Game.

North Carolina has big wing in Nassir Little and a scoring guard in Coby White. Little looked like he was going to Arizona before the FBI investigation hit, then flipped to the Tar Heels. He’s a versatile defender and a tough rebounder with length (7’1 wingspan), a developing jump shot and a high motor. He should be UNC’s first top-10 draft pick since Harrison Barnes. White should fill Joel Berry’s shoes from Day 1, but he projects as a much better scorer. White is going to have some huge offensive nights for the Tar Heels.

Kansas has a smooth 6’5 scoring guard in Quentin Grimes, a point guard who can score or pass in Devon Dotson and a massive center in David McCormick who will provide some badly needed front court depth.