By R.L. Bynum
Two North Carolina-bound five-star players — Caleb Wilson and Nyla Brooks — showed off their talents at the McDonald’s All-American Games on Tuesday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, although the chances to display their offensive skills were limited by the number of touches they got.
In the boys game, Wilson, a 6–9, 205-pound forward, started for the West in its 105–92 victory. He showed off his elite defensive skills throughout the game but missed all four of his shots — two from 3-point range — and finished with six rebounds, one assist, three points and three turnovers.
The West’s Darryn Peterson, a Kansas recruit with a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds, and the East’s Cameron Boozer, a Duke recruit with 16 points and 12 rebounds, shared MVP honors.
Wilson is part of Carolina’s incoming freshman class that includes two four-star combo guards: Isaiah Denis of Davidson, N.C. (ranked 78th in ESPN’s Class of 2025 rankings) and Derek Dixon of Washington, D.C. (ranked 52nd).
In the girls game, Brooks, a 6–2 wing, played 15 minutes off the bench and was one of four East players to score in double figures in their 104–82 loss to the West, which scored the game’s first 18 points, most of it before Brooks entered the game.
Brooks was 5 of 11 from the floor, 1 of 2 from 3-point range with four rebounds, one assist, two steals, one block and two turnovers. She was a team-high +9.
UCLA recruit Sienna Betts was the MVP of the girls game with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Brooks is part of UNC’s three-player Class of 2025, including five-star wing Taliyah Henderson (21st in the class) and four-star forward Taissa Queiroz (76th). Queiroz enrolled at UNC for the spring semester and practiced and traveled with the team over the last 2½ months.
Next for Wilson and Brooks is the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington’s CareFirst Arena on April 18.
Boys box score
Girls box score
Photo courtesy McDonald’s All-American Games
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