Philadelphia-Area Stars Lift East and Shine at McDonald's All American Games in Houston

HOUSTON — For DJ Wagner, the weight of the occasion was clear. Dressed in the All American uniform once worn by his father and grandfather, and lacing up a pair of Kobe Bryant's shoes, Wagner delivered his best basketball when the spotlight was brightest at the boys' McDonald's All American Game on Tuesday.

Wagner scored all 19 of his points after halftime as the East beat the West, 109-106. He shared the game's co-MVP honor with Isaiah Collier, who has signed with USC. His father, Dajuan, and grandfather, Milt, were both stars in Camden, and the Bryant shoes were a nod to a legend whose career began at Lower Merion.

The game carried a strong Philadelphia-area flavor. Wagner sparked the East's second-half comeback alongside his Camden teammate Aaron Bradshaw and Imhotep's Justin Edwards. All three are headed to Kentucky, and their rapport was noticeable from the moment they hit the floor together.

"I feel like the whole team had great chemistry, but when it comes to me and Aaron, we've been playing together for a long time, so it's natural when we step on the court with each other," Wagner said. He added that the two know each other's moves and preferences, a familiarity he credited to spending so much time together.

Bradshaw agreed. "We're just real comfortable with each other," he said, explaining that he knows how to set screens for Wagner because he knows how his teammate likes to come off his left hand. Bradshaw finished with 18 points and eight rebounds and won the boys' sportsmanship award. Edwards contributed 11 points.

Local talent also stood out in the girls' game. Hannah Hidalgo, a Paul VI standout who will play at Notre Dame, set a game record with 26 points. She also tied the game record with eight steals and handed out five assists. Her East team lost to the West, 110-102, a result that was itself a game record for scoring. Hidalgo shared MVP honors with USC-bound Juju Watkins.

Hidalgo may have produced the night's top highlight when she sank a three-pointer from well beyond the arc just as the third quarter ended. She said facing so many high-level players was valuable preparation. "We're the next generation, and we see all these girls and how great these girls are and all the people that were in double digits at the same time, it's definitely preparing us for college and the next level," she said. "It's an honor to go against these girls who are college-ready now."

A common thread in the players' comments was that the week would stay with them. Bradshaw said his favorite part was simply being around the other standouts, learning from them, competing and practicing with them, and getting to know them at the hotel. "I wouldn't really say I have a favorite moment; just being here itself is a blessing," he said. "I'm just happy to be here."