The fans came to the boys McDonald’s All-American Game at Philips Arena to see phenom Zion Williamson. They may have left talking about North Carolina signee Nassir Little.
In an up-and-down contest loaded with dunks and alley-oops – many of them successful – Little was the star player in the 41st McDonald’s All-American Game Wednesday night at Philips. It was the third time that the game has come to Atlanta, most recently in 1992. Before an announced crowd of 11,249, the West team won 131-128 in a game long on one-and-done talent and short on defense. It was the third highest scoring game in the game’s history.
Little did a little bit of everything, and a lot of scoring. Little, from Orange Park, Fla., finished with a game-high 28 points for the geographically-challenged West team. He scored on a putback dunk, rebounded, hit 3-pointers and defended. In one dazzling sequence in the first half, the 6-foot-7 Little scored on a dunk, cleared a defensive rebound at the other end and then went coast to coast, scoring on a layup after a behind-the-back dribble. He made 12 of 17 shots, including two of four from 3-point range, on a night when it seemed he could do no wrong.
“I realized it after I went behind the back and laid it up,” he said. “I’m like, I’m in my groove. And then coming out second half, I was just going, I was just rolling, just kept pushing.”
The MVP honor is a bit of a marker for greatness. From the 1999 game through the 2016 edition, 20 of 24 MVP’s (there were six games with co-MVP’s) became first-round draft picks, including 17 taken in the first 15 selections. Not bad for a player who didn’t even start in the game and wasn’t himself expecting much.
“Last night, I was telling myself, I’m not winning (MVP),” he said. “I didn’t play that well in the scrimmage, so I kind of counted myself out, but something in me always tells me I can do it. Not necessarily in my mind, but the time I put into this game, it just pays off.”
On a stage of blue-chippers, Little, while rated the No. 10 player in the country by ESPN, was something of an underdog. In fact, Duke signee RJ Barrett, rated the No. 1 player in the senior class, called him as much after the game in appreciation.
Compared at least to his fellow All-Americans, he was relatively unheralded until the summer of 2017, when his performance in the summer circuit drew the attention of Duke, North Carolina and Arizona, an ascension that blew up Georgia Tech’s plans to sign an under-the-radar prospect before the bluebloods could discover him. In an interview on Tuesday, he acknowledged that, a year ago, he wouldn’t have thought that he would be in the McDonald’s game.
“But it was something that I wanted to do so I just put my mind to it,” he said. “I worked for it. I’m not surprised that I’m here. I played countless hours in the gym, waking up every morning at 5 o’clock. With my work ethic, it doesn’t really surprise me, but a year ago, I didn’t expect it.”
Williamson, the Duke signee from Spartanburg, S.C., whose dunks have gained him fame on social media, scored eight points in 17 minutes. The Philips Arena crowd, entertained by Ludacris at halftime and including noted Atlanta rapper Quavo, clearly was hoping for a show from Williamson. At one point in the second half, when he dribbled upcourt in transition, fans buzzed in anticipation. His dunk try, however, ricocheted off of the rim.
With a little under seven minutes remaining, Williamson had the ball on the right wing, defended by Little. The noise again built for a sneak peek at next year’s Duke-UNC matchup. Little, clearly not interested in being Williamson’s foil, poked the ball away out of bounds and pumped his fist. Moments later, the two were in the same spot, and Williamson drove but Little forced a turnover. Williamson fell, and stayed on the floor with a hand injury. He did not return to the game. A game spokeswoman said that Williamson would be seen by a personal doctor Thursday.
“Kind of piggybacking off what RJ said, I really got that vibe that I’m the underdog in this situation,” he said. “I’m a tough kid from Florida, so I have to prove myself every time on the court. I don’t back down. I was just playing hard.”
Wheeler High star EJ Montgomery scored 12 points in 18 minutes for the East team. Montgomery became the fifth Wheeler player to be selected to play in the McDonald’s game.
But the night was Little’s.
“People have always counted me out, I feel like,” Little said. “This kind of showcase, on this stage, at this time, it’s just a great feeling. I feel like I showed the world that I can do it.”
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