Is the McDonalds All-American game still a thing?

So, this past week our team travelled to Barclays Arena to witness the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game. For those that are not aware, this game has long stood as the pinnacle of high school basketball, symbolizing excellence and marking the emergence of future NBA stars. Established in 1977, this annual showcase has become a rite of passage for elite high school players, providing a national stage for them to prove they belong among the best. Over the decades, the game has featured a who’s who of basketball royalty, from Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and many others.

Relevance in Today’s Game

From our vantage point- In the modern basketball landscape, the McDonald’s All-American Game remains a prestigious event, but its relevance has shifted somewhat due to the proliferation of other high-profile showcases, such as the Jordan Brand Classic, Nike Hoop Summit, and grassroots events. Platforms like Ballislife and Overtime have also amplified exposure for top players, making their performances visible year-round rather than confined to one marquee game.

That said, the McDonald’s Game still carries significant weight as a historical benchmark. For NBA scouts, college coaches, and fans, being named a McDonald’s All-American signals a player’s ability to compete at the highest levels. It’s not just about the game itself—it’s the culmination of years of dominance on the high school circuit. Players who make this roster have typically performed consistently on national stages and against top competition.

Pathway to the NBA

For many, the McDonald’s Game serves as a stepping stone to the NBA. Historically, the correlation between McDonald’s All-Americans and NBA draftees has been striking. According to recent data, nearly 60% of McDonald’s All-Americans go on to play in the NBA. The game also offers a preview of how these players stack up against their peers before entering college or professional pathways. It’s no coincidence that many of the top picks in the NBA Draft first made their mark in this showcase.

However, in today’s era of expanded professional options, including the NBA G League Ignite, Overtime Elite, and overseas opportunities, the McDonald’s Game is no longer the sole indicator of NBA readiness. For example, players like Scoot Henderson bypassed traditional high school showcases for the professional route, demonstrating that while the McDonald’s All-American Game remains a gold standard, it is no longer the only pathway and in some circles this past week - some might even say the game is NOT up-to McDonalds standards. 

Conclusion

The McDonald’s All-American Game remains an iconic event in high school basketball. Its legacy, cultural significance, and the elite talent it brings together continue to make it a critical milestone for young players dreaming of the NBA. Yet, its role is evolving as basketball pathways diversify. Even so, being named a McDonald’s All-American carries a badge of honor that echoes throughout a player’s career, symbolizing their place among the game’s brightest stars.

College Athletics – The New Playground for the Ultra-Rich

In the world of college athletics, the “big bank take little bank” mindset is taking over. With NIL money flowing and donor-backed collectives driving recruitment, college football and basketball are starting to resemble elite, wealth-driven sports like horse racing, NASCAR, and the America’s Cup.

HERE'S WHY.

1. Donor Power Is Reshaping the Game
Just like billionaire-funded racing teams or yacht syndicates, major college programs are now bankrolled by ultra-wealthy donors. These individuals use their fortunes to stack rosters and fund massive NIL collectives. Schools like Texas, Texas A&M, and USC have donor groups offering seven-figure deals to attract and retain top talent. The result? A recruiting arms race where only the wealthiest programs can realistically compete.

2. College Athletics as a Status Symbol
In the same way billionaires fund America’s Cup teams or own racehorses for clout, college boosters now use NIL to attach their names to programs. It’s less about passion for the school and more about influence and prestige. Programs are becoming luxury investments—a way for the rich to flex their financial muscle on the college sports stage.

3. The Diminishing Middle Class
Much like NASCAR’s powerhouse teams or horse racing’s elite stables, college athletics is seeing a growing disparity. Power 4 programs are stockpiling talent while mid-majors and smaller schools struggle to compete. Players once loyal to mid-sized programs are now jumping ship for more lucrative NIL deals at bigger schools.

4. Is a Bubble Forming?
Historically, sports like horse racing and America’s Cup lost mainstream appeal as billionaire-backed dominance made them less relatable. College athletics could face the same fate. If donor-fueled programs continue to hoard the best talent, casual fans may lose interest in lopsided competition, creating the potential for a financial bubble.

💡 The Bottom Line
College athletics is quickly becoming the new Formula 1—where only the wealthiest programs can keep up. The question is: will this donor-driven era lead to a golden age of competition or push fans and smaller programs away? One thing is certain—college sports is no longer just a game. It’s a billionaire’s playground.

Confessions of a Basketball Mom: Much Has Changed Since 2020.

Basketball has evolved dramatically since my daughter first stepped onto the court in 2020. The game is faster, the expectations are higher, and the pathway to success is more complex. But through it all, the love for the sport remains.

The Lasting Impact of COVID on Player Development 

Starting basketball during COVID meant limited access to coaches, trainers, and even gyms. Foundational skills suffered, with many kids forced to develop their game through virtual training, driveway workouts, and YouTube tutorials. Now, those players are still catching up—learning skills today that they should have developed at 9 or 10.

Long-term planning has never been more important, as players must close developmental gaps while staying competitive with their peers. For parents, this means being strategic—choosing the right trainers, teams, and playing opportunities to support growth without burning our kids out.

 The Rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) for High School Athletes

In 2020, the idea of high school athletes making money from their personal brand was unheard of. Now, NIL deals have completely changed the game. Social media presence, highlight reels, and personal branding are just as important as stats and performance.

Players are being scouted online before they even step into a gym. The ability to market yourself now plays a huge role in recruiting. As someone with a background in marketing and global corporate partnerships, I’m excited to share insights on how athletes (and their parents) can navigate this new reality.

The Growing Focus on Mental Health

Youth sports have always been intense, but we’re finally acknowledging the mental and emotional toll on young athletes. The pressure to perform, the stress of recruiting, and the constant comparison to peers can be overwhelming.

Conversations around confidence, resilience, and overall mental well-being are gaining traction, but we still have work to do. As a mom who has seen these challenges firsthand, I want to explore how we—as a collective—can better support our kids.

The Cost of Playing Elite Basketball Has Skyrocketed

Basketball has never been cheap, but post-2020, the costs of club teams, training, travel, and showcases have surged. Families are spending thousands per season, making elite development a significant financial burden.

As a parent, I’ve explored both traditional and alternative development routes. My daughter and I are embracing a more unorthodox approach—some things will be wildly successful, while others will have us falling flat on our faces. But that’s part of the process. Agility is key.

Girls’ Basketball is Growing—But Challenges Remain

The visibility of women’s basketball has grown, thanks to increased media coverage and WNBA superstars inspiring the next generation. But disparities still exist. Elite AAU circuits are still largely dominated by boys’ teams, and resources for girls don’t always match what’s available on the boys’ side.

The good news? More organizations are stepping up to bridge the gap. My passion extends beyond just helping my daughter play the game—I want to expose her to all the adjacent opportunities that can help her grow as a person.

Recruiting Has Changed—And It’s More Competitive Than Ever 

The recruiting process has shifted dramatically. The transfer portal and NIL opportunities have led many college coaches to prioritize experienced transfers over incoming freshmen. For high school athletes, this means exposure and relationships are more critical than ever.

Attending the right camps, playing on the right circuits, and getting in front of the right coaches can make all the difference. My daughter and I have a targeted list of 2-5 D1 schools she’s passionate about, but her D3 list is twice as long. She knows she doesn’t want to play professionally, so choosing the right school and degree is just as important as her time on the court. I look forward to sharing our learnings and missteps along the way.

The Road Ahead

For parents and players navigating this world today, adaptability is key—understanding what’s changed, embracing what works, and staying patient through the ups and downs. No matter how different the landscape looks, one thing remains constant: the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.

I look forward to navigating these next four years with you.

The evolution of the basketball training industry

The explosion of basketball trainers in recent years can be attributed to multiple factors, including cultural shifts, technological advancements, and changing player development philosophies. Let’s break this down from both a historical and modern perspective, while also comparing generational approaches.

1. The Evolution of the Basketball Training Industry

A. The Old School (Pre-2000s) – The Coach-Centric Era

• Training was team-based: In previous generations, development largely occurred within a structured team setting under the guidance of a coach. There were few, if any, specialized trainers. If a player wanted to improve, they stayed late after practice or sought guidance from their high school or AAU coach.
• Development was organic: Players honed their skills through trial and error in unstructured settings—pick-up games, open gyms, and neighborhood courts. Repetition and game experience were the primary tools for improvement.
• Few full-time trainers: Training as a business was almost non-existent. The rare "trainer" was often an assistant coach or a former player giving pointers in an informal capacity.

B. The Mid-2000s to 2010s – The Skill Development Boom

• The rise of specialized trainers: As basketball became more skill-based and positionless, individual trainers started gaining traction. Influential figures like Ganon Baker helped popularize the idea that personal trainers could provide skills development outside of team practices.
• The "Kobe Effect": Kobe Bryant’s legendary work ethic, including his infamous 5 AM workouts, inspired a new generation of players who sought an edge outside of traditional team settings.
• The early impact of social media: Platforms like YouTube allowed trainers to share their drills, philosophies, and workouts with a global audience, making skill development more accessible and popularizing the idea of private training.

C. The 2020s – The Explosion of Basketball Trainers

• Social media dominance: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have transformed training into a business, with trainers gaining exposure by posting drills, breakdowns, and testimonials from high-profile players. A trainer can now gain national recognition overnight if their video goes viral.
• The "Microwave" Era of Training: Unlike past generations where development was about long-term, incremental progress, many trainers today focus on rapid skill acquisition, often prioritizing aesthetics over game application. Some prioritize flashy drills that look good on video rather than movements that translate to game performance.
• Accessibility and monetization: The barrier to entry for trainers is lower than ever. A person doesn’t need to have played at a high level—if they understand the game, can market themselves effectively, and can connect with players, they can build a clientele. Platforms like Vagaro, Mindbody, and Gumroad make it easy for trainers to sell services and digital products (e.g., workout PDFs, online courses).
• The AAU & NIL Influence: The shift in youth basketball culture, particularly the rise of AAU and NIL deals, has increased the demand for specialized training. Parents see trainers as an investment, hoping their child will secure a scholarship or professional opportunities.

3. The Underlying Reason for the Explosion

The primary reason for the surge in basketball trainers is the intersection of business opportunity and technological advancement. While the game has evolved, the biggest shift has been the ability for trainers to monetize their expertise at scale in ways that weren’t possible before.

• Low barrier to entry: Anyone with a phone, a few drills, and marketing savvy can brand themselves as a trainer, making the field more crowded than ever.
• The rise of individualism in basketball: Unlike past generations that emphasized team-oriented improvement, today’s players are trained to brand themselves as individuals—making personal training more desirable than ever.
• Fear of falling behind: Players and parents now feel that NOT having a trainer puts them at a disadvantage, creating an environment where private training is viewed as essential rather than optional.

4. The Major Challenge: Is More Training Actually Better?

While the increase in trainers has made skill development more accessible, it has also introduced new concerns:

• Oversaturation of unqualified trainers: Many new trainers lack the experience or understanding to truly develop players, yet they thrive due to strong marketing and social media presence.
• Lack of real game translation: Players spend hours perfecting drills that don’t always translate into actual game situations.
• The decline of instinctual basketball: In the past, players developed instincts through unstructured play. Now, many players are overtrained in scripted drills but struggle to adapt in real-time game situations.

5. What Comes Next? The Future of Basketball Training

With the field becoming saturated, we may see a natural correction where:

• Only the best trainers will sustain long-term success—those who prove they can develop players who perform in real games, not just in workouts.
• A shift back toward game-based development—trainers who incorporate competitive and decision-making elements into their training will separate themselves from the crowd.
• A demand for more holistic development—including mental performance, injury prevention, and basketball IQ training rather than just skill work.

Conclusion

The explosion of basketball trainers is a direct result of social media, changes in player development philosophies, and the increasing commercialization of youth sports. While training is more accessible than ever, there’s a growing divide between training for social media versus training for actual game performance. The best trainers moving forward will be those who can bridge that gap—combining skill development with real-world application in a way that creates better basketball players, not just better workout clips."

Questions: Confessions of a Basketball Mom

Every AAU season, the question comes up: "Should our high school girls stick together and play on the same AAU team?" At first glance, the idea seems beneficial—it builds chemistry, strengthens continuity, and gives the team more time to gel.

But as I’ve navigated this process, I’ve realized that what’s best for the team may not always align with what’s best for an individual player’s growth.

Balancing development with team cohesion

My daughter is a dominant player on her high school team. While that’s a great position to be in, it also presents unique challenges. There are still areas of her game that need development, but in a team setting, the focus isn’t always on refining individual skills—it’s often about ensuring the entire group is competitive, learning the system, and executing plays effectively.

Should your child play AAU with their high school teammates?

This isn’t a critique of the coaching staff. They are doing their best with the players they have, just as we as parents are trying to make the best decisions for our children. High school coaches have to focus on the overall success of the team, which means balancing skill development across all players.

The importance of mental stimulation and challenge

One aspect that often gets overlooked in these discussions is mental safety—ensuring that a player is not just physically competing but also mentally engaged and stimulated. A dominant player who isn’t consistently challenged may lose motivation, feel stagnant, or even disengage from the sport. Growth happens when players are pushed outside their comfort zone—when they’re forced to think, adapt, and elevate their game against stronger competition. If a player isn’t being stretched in that way, they may not be getting the experience they need to reach their full potential.

Alternatives to full time AAU team commitment

If the goal of keeping high school teammates together in AAU is to build chemistry for the upcoming season, but individual player goals differ, there are alternative ways to achieve that balance. Not every player needs to be on the same AAU team for the entire spring and summer. In my previous blog post, I discussed all the factors that go into these decisions, and naturally, not every player will land in the same place after considering their individual needs.

A great compromise is for the high school program to organize monthly offseason practices or scrimmages. This allows players who are on different teams during the offseason to continue building chemistry while still ensuring they are getting the best competition for their personal growth. These sessions can help maintain team cohesion without limiting players who may need a different environment to develop at the level they aspire to reach.

Key Takeaways

1. Assess Individual Growth Needs – Is your player being pushed mentally and physically in their current environment?

2. Balance Team and Individual Goals – If team cohesion is a priority, are there alternative ways to maintain it without sacrificing individual development?

3. Prioritize Mental and Physical Challenges – The right decision should keep a player engaged, motivated, and improving in areas that will help them reach their long-term goals.

There’s no universal right or wrong answer. The key is making sure that the decision aligns with what’s best for the player while still finding ways to support team success. Sometimes that means playing together year-round, and other times it means finding a different competitive environment while ensuring team chemistry remains a priority.

So… tell me… does this resonate with you?

Confessions of a Basketball Mom: Introduction

Let me take this opportunity and introduce myself and for the record I am not just a random parent on the sidelines instead I have a 15-year-old daughter who has been on this journey since the start of the pandemic.  

Like many kids who began playing during COVID, she had to navigate limited training opportunities, shifting team structures, and the changing landscape of recruiting. Every decision we make, from choosing teams to prioritizing development, comes with a new set of challenges and opportunities.

So now that I established my credentials  I am honored to pick up Team FOOTPRINTZ' blog to Diary of a Basketball Mom although we are calling this series "Confessions of a Basketball Mom".  

I read my fellow basketball mom’s blog from 2020 and despite the fact that so much of what she shared still holds true, a lot has changed since 2020. 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into some of the biggest shifts in youth basketball, exploring how they impact players, parents, and the game itself. 

For my first blog entry I will be unpacking the below topics:

• The Lasting Impact of COVID on Player Development
• The Rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) for High School Athletes
• The Growing Focus on Mental Health 
• The Cost of Playing Elite Basketball Has Skyrocketed
• Girls’ Basketball is Growing—But Challenges Remain
• Recruiting Has Changed—And It’s More Competitive Than Ever

Basketball has evolved dramatically since my daughter first stepped onto the court in 2020. The game is faster, the expectations are higher, and the pathway to success is more complex. But through it all, the love for the sport remains.

For parents and players navigating this world today, adaptability is key—understanding what’s changed, embracing what works, and staying patient through the ups and downs. No matter how different the landscape looks, one thing remains constant: the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.

I look forward to navigating these next four years and I am excited to share a piece of our journey with you'll.

Life After the Game: Navigating the Next Chapter as a Former Student-Athlete

Each year, as high school and college sports seasons come to a close, thousands of student-athletes face an unfamiliar reality—life without the sport that has defined them for years. For some, this transition is met with excitement, a new chapter filled with opportunity. For others, it brings anxiety, uncertainty, and even grief.

If you’re a student-athlete at this crossroads, know this: You are not alone. This transition is a natural, albeit challenging, part of life. And while your playing days may be over, your story is just beginning.

Who Am I Without My Sport?

For years, you’ve introduced yourself as an athlete. Your routine, your friendships, your confidence—even your identity—have been shaped by the game. Now, without daily practices, competition, and the structure that came with it, you may feel a sense of loss.

But this moment isn’t just about what’s ending; it’s about what’s next. This is your time to redefine yourself—not as just an athlete, but as a person with an array of talents, passions, and goals beyond the game.

How to Navigate This Transition

1. Acknowledge the Change

It’s okay to feel a mix of emotions—relief, sadness, excitement, fear. Change is difficult, and transitioning away from competitive sports is one of the biggest life shifts you’ll experience. Give yourself permission to process this chapter’s closure while recognizing that you’re stepping into a new phase of growth.

2. Identify Transferable Skills

Being an athlete has given you a unique set of skills that are highly valued in the real world:

• Discipline – The ability to stick to a plan and push through challenges.

• Work Ethic – You’ve put in countless hours to perfect your craft. That same drive can be applied to new pursuits.

• Teamwork & Leadership – You’ve learned how to communicate, lead, and work toward a common goal.

• Resilience – Handling losses, setbacks, and pressure has prepared you to tackle life’s challenges.

Employers, coaches, and leaders respect these qualities. Start thinking about how to apply them to your next journey.

3. Explore New Passions

For years, your schedule was dictated by practices and games. Now, you have the freedom to explore new interests. What excites you outside of sports?

• Do you love fitness? Consider coaching, personal training, or sports media.

• Are you passionate about leadership? Explore mentoring, management, or entrepreneurship.

• Do you enjoy storytelling? Look into sports journalism, podcasting, or content creation.

There is no right or wrong answer—only opportunities waiting to be explored.

4. Stay Active & Connected

Just because you’re no longer competing at the same level doesn’t mean you have to leave the game behind entirely. Consider staying connected by:

• Playing recreationally or in intramural leagues.

• Coaching younger athletes.

• Pursuing a career in sports-related fields.

Your love for the game doesn’t have to end—it just evolves.

5. Build Your Network & Seek Guidance

You’re not in this alone. Seek advice from former athletes who’ve gone through this transition. Connect with mentors, coaches, and professionals who can guide you toward opportunities that align with your strengths.

Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with alumni, attend networking events, and explore career paths. Many people are willing to help—you just have to ask.

6. Set New Goals

Athletes thrive on structure and purpose. Without scheduled practices and games, it’s important to set new goals for yourself. Whether it’s landing a new job, learning a skill, or traveling, having something to work toward will help maintain your sense of purpose.

Your Next Chapter Starts Now

Stepping away from the game is not the end—it’s a new beginning. You have spent years developing discipline, resilience, and leadership, and now it’s time to apply those strengths to something even bigger.

Embrace the uncertainty. Explore new paths. And remember, you are more than an athlete—you are a person with limitless potential.

The next chapter is yours to write. Make it count.