What this McDonald's class means for the next NBA draft

The 24 best high school seniors conducted three practices and one private scrimmage under the watchful eyes of dozens of NBA decision-makers this week in Atlanta, leading up to the McDonald's All American Game on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN).

The feedback from NBA executives in Atlanta, including numerous general managers, was decidedly mixed, with quite a bit of grumbling regarding the format of the practices, the competitiveness of the participants and the overall quality of the 2018 high school class, which should form the backbone of the 2019 NBA draft.

A distinct lack of energy and urgency prevailed in all three practices, as many of the best players coasted, seemingly not having much to prove despite the presence of such a large number of people in the stands who will have a huge role in deciding the outlook of their professional careers. Many fingers were pointed at the coaching staffs of both teams for failing to motivate the players to compete and for not putting them in a position to showcase their talents to the fullest extent with more challenging drills and greater accountability.

The private scrimmage, attended live by NBA executives, family members, McDonald's All American Game committee members and ESPN employees (including us) was better, even though the lack of star power and overall depth of NBA-caliber talent was certainly evident.

Virtually every NBA executive we spoke with was disappointed in the lack of sure-fire All-Star players at the top of this class. This might cause some teams to lower their asking prices during the offseason for 2019 draft picks, as this is widely shaping up to be an abnormally weak group of prospects available to be picked throughout the first round. A trickle-down effect appears to be happening this year, as a number of highly regarded prospects who were expected to enter the 2018 NBA draft reportedly are considering returning to school for another year. Of course, unexpected prospects pop up every year, either during the college season, such as Trae Young, or once they're in the NBA, such as Donovan Mitchell. A few late risers could strengthen the 2019 class, but for now, the top-flight prospects are lacking.

The headliners of this group appear to be R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish, both wing players headed to Duke. Reddish has been underwhelming, in particular, struggling to shoot the ball all week in practice, seemingly changing his mechanics from attempt to attempt and not demonstrating much confidence in his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc, noticeably hanging his head after misses. He likely has the highest pure talent level of anyone in this group, as he has all the tools physically and skill on both ends of the floor, but the question marks about his mental approach might scare some teams.

Barrett is the clear-cut alpha dog of this group, and he looked to establish that early and often in the private scrimmage, with an overall strong performance. Still, NBA scouts question the extent of his long-term upside, with some comparing him to a Jimmy Butler-type prospect if he reaches his prime. Butler is a star NBA player, but he has clearly maximized his potential. A prospect with that kind of ceiling isn't exactly what some teams are craving with the No. 1 pick.

After that, things fall off considerably. Zion Williamson is a tremendous athlete who has gotten himself into far better shape over the past few months, and he is a better passer and competitor than he gets credit for. With that said, he is very limited with his ability to score outside the paint, and at 6-foot-6, he might not have a position even in today's fluid NBA. Romeo Langford is an outstanding overall talent with prototypical physical tools, including size, length and terrific quickness getting off his feet. He has advanced scoring instincts, creating shots for himself inside the arc, getting low to the ground with strong ballhandling skills and footwork, as well as the ability to finish creatively around the basket. His jump shot remains a work in progress, though, and he lacks a degree of feel and toughness on both ends of the floor, having a tendency to blend in at times.

NBA scouts will be watching the McDonald's game intently to see if any of these four top prospects show something different than what they demonstrated in the practices and scrimmage. Just how dynamic of an athlete is Barrett precisely, and how high is his upside? Can Reddish find some consistency in his approach and show more of a killer instinct? What exactly will Zion's role be in the NBA, and what can he hang his hat on outside of highlight-reel dunks? Can Langford develop into a go-to scorer at the NBA level? What is his ceiling? These are some of the questions NBA people will be asking.

Although some of the so-called elite prospects in this class -- such as E.J. Montgomery, Moses Brown, Nazreon Reid and Jordan Brown -- had very disappointing showings, leading some scouts to question their inclusion in the game, a number of players were able to separate themselves over the course of the week and show that they are better players than previously considered.

Devon Dotson (No. 24 in the ESPN 100) was a borderline pick for this game based on recruiting rankings. Over the course of the week, he showed not only that he belongs but also that he might have a case to be considered the best point guard in the class. He has gotten bigger and stronger and has terrific quickness and ability to accelerate in the open court, showcasing an extra gear that allowed him to get in the paint repeatedly all week. He also did a great job of blending his scoring and playmaking. He's a smart and competitive player who looks tailor-made to step into the role vacated in Kansas' offense by senior Devonte' Graham, thanks to his ability to operate in pick-and-rolls, push the ball in transition and execute in the half court. Dotson's jumper always has been considered a weakness over the years, but he has made significant strides with this part of his game, a testament to his excellent work ethic, and he hit a number of deep 3-pointers both with his feet set and pulling up off the dribble. -- Givony

Scouting the All American standouts

Nassir Little intrigued NBA scouts with his tremendous physical profile and continually improving shooting stroke, cementing himself as one of the top long-term prospects in the class, potentially right behind Barrett and Reddish. Standing 6-foot-6 with a chiseled frame and a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he's strong and long enough to slide up to the 4, which is his more comfortable position offensively. He's explosive off two feet in space and has both the foot speed and girth to check either forward spot while switching onto the perimeter regularly. He has played with inconsistent energy at times in the past but was quite competitive during both practice sessions and the scrimmage. In addition to his defense, Little has value as a rebounder and floor spacer. His catch-and-shoot mechanics looked much more fluid in this setting, and he showed the ability to create space off the bounce with step-backs. Watching Little grab and go in transition, switch on the perimeter and make open shots certainly caught the eye of NBA scouts. It's his feel for the game and ability to make quick decisions against scrambling defenders that likely will determine his upside.

Kentucky commit Keldon Johnson introduced himself to most NBA scouts for the first time, and he made a strong impression thanks to his slimmed down 6-foot-6 frame, powerful athleticism, aggressive mentality and shooting potential. Johnson showed out as one of the more competitive players to take the floor in Atlanta. He attacked the rim with physicality into right- and left-hand finishes, crashed the offensive and defensive glass, went toe-to-toe with Barrett in the mid-post and brought vocal energy in practice settings. Becoming a consistent threat from the perimeter will be key for Johnson long term, especially because he's more of a momentum athlete than an overly twitchy, half-court shot creator. He gets good rotation and is certainly capable, but he isn't overly dynamic as a shooter and tends to turn down open jumpers once he misses one or two attempts. Johnson did show that he's more than just a straight-line slasher, though, as he can play out of pick-and-roll and facilitate on the move. Known for his confident approach to the game, Johnson has some alpha dog qualities that should allow him to stand out right away at Kentucky.

Playing for droves of NBA scouts for the first time in his career, Jalen Smith helped himself as much as any prospect here. Better known as "Stix" to his teammates, the lanky, 6-foot-9 Maryland signee is an energetic, modern big man who can space the floor while protecting the rim and rebounding on the other end. He's quick off the floor as a shot-blocker and an active rebounder, but it's his shooting stroke that makes him so intriguing to NBA scouts. He's made tremendous progress with his mechanics since we first evaluated him with USA Basketball in Colorado Springs in June 2016, as he shoots an easy ball with great balance and rotation. Although he has filled out in his upper body with wide shoulders, Smith is still thin-waisted with twigs for thighs, and he struggles with contact despite his competitive nature. As a somewhat late bloomer, Smith still has room to improve his feel for the game and overall offensive polish. But his rapid improvement and modern fit as a PF/C made him one of the most intriguing short- and long-term big man prospects in Atlanta.

Vanderbilt signee Darius Garland stood out as arguably the most skilled guard to take the floor, asserting himself during the scrimmage by putting pressure on the rim in space, knocking down shots off the bounce and facilitating with creativity and timing. Garland is a slight, explosive point guard with a tight handle, a unique ability to shift gears on a dime and excellent pace to his game as both a scorer and playmaker. Although he has gotten a bit stronger, Garland's average physical profile -- 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, with a 6-foot-5 wingspan -- limits his defensive versatility, finishing potential and long-term upside, even with his competitive nature. Scouts will get a better feel for Garland in a more spirited setting at the Nike Hoop Summit, but he certainly helped prove that he's skilled enough to play in the NBA once his body catches up to his game. He projects as an instant-impact starter under Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew. -- Schmitz