YouTube Gold: 1996 McDonald’s All-American Game

Featuring the late Kobe Bryant

The 1996 McDonald’s Game was full of names that we knew at the time and some who still have an impact on the game.

Among the stars that year: Nate James, who of course starred for Duke, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’ Neal, Shaheen Holoway, Ed Cota, Richard Hamilton, Corey Benjamin, Mike Bibby, Mateen Cleaves, Loren Woods, Jason Collier, Ronnie Fields and Kobe Bryant.

A lot of these guys really left their mark on the game. James was instrumental in helping Duke to win a national championship, O’Neil had a long NBA career, Cota had a solid run at UNC, Hamilton helped UConn to a national championship, Cleaves helped Michigan State get one as well despite being injured.

The star of stars of course was Bryant, who skipped college and went directly to the NBA where he had a Hall of Fame career, arguably becoming one of the Top 25 players of all time. His work ethic became legendary. Tragically, he died in a helicopter accident at the age of 41.