Bronny James, Juju Watkins named McDonald’s All-Americans

As excitement surrounding Bronny James’ collegiate involvement continues to mount, the basketball senior on Tuesday ticked off a major high school honor for the Sierra Canyon boys who are competing in the McDonald’s All-American game on March 28 at Houston’s Toyota Center will.

James joined Sierra Canyon girl star Juju Watkins as the Trailblazers, featured in a group totaling 48 people who were named to the men’s and women’s rosters — the first time, according to historically available rosters, that a Los Angeles area school All-Americans included men and women in the same year. Four-year-old Corona Centennial senior Jared McCain was also nominated for the men’s game.

James follows in the footsteps of four Sierra Canyon boys selected as All-Americans in the past three years: current UCLA guard Amari Bailey and USC big Kijani Wright in 2022, and NBA students in second Year BJ Boston and Ziaire Williams in 2020. After injury-plagued seasons in Sierra Canyon playing a complementary role to top talent, James has taken the spotlight more often this season, a steady catalyst at both ends of the parquet, giving the 18-5 Trailblazers an unrelenting transitional identity.

Watkins was an undeniable pick, the nation’s top consensual women’s basketball player, penning a historically great senior season for an undefeated Sierra Canyon program. USC commits average 26.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

It’s just the latest accolade in a stacked trophy cabinet, as she was back-to-back honors for Los Angeles Times Basketball Player of the Year, last year’s Gatorade State Player of the Year award, and winning a gold medal for USA basketball last summer.

McCain, meanwhile, will check off one of the final items on a high school goal board he’s been developing for years. McCain, a senior guard who has helped Corona Centennial win back-to-back state championships, was named Gatorade State Player of the Year last season and has played an even bigger role in a 20-3 Huskies roster this season.

Jada Williams and Breya Cunningham of La Jolla Country Day, a point guard-sized connection that is electrifying the Torreys, were also called up to the women’s roster to round out the Southern California representation.