McDonald’s All American talk: Ian Jackson at the point, Cooper Flagg on golf course

Ian Jackson at point guard ... Cooper Flagg on the golf course ... Isaiah Evans not feeling any pressure ... and Zam Jones starting school at 2 p.m. each day.

Put the nation’s top high school senior basketball players in front of the media, and you’ll get some interesting revelations.

Such was the case Monday at the news conference in advance of Tuesday night’s McDonald’s All American basketball games at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Each of the 48 players selected for the girls’ and boys’ games got some time in front of the media, discussing everything from when their school day starts, to how they think they’ll fit in with their college teams.

The group included three players headed to Duke, two North Carolina commits, and one committed to N.C. State. And it included two-time Ms. Basketball in North Carolina, Sarah Strong, who remains uncommitted.

The big show comes Tuesday night. The girls’ game opens the doubleheader at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2), with the boys playing at 9 p.m. (ESPN).

The rosters include five players from North Carolina, including North Mecklenburg’s Evans. The others are Northwood’s Drake Powell, Word of God’s Jayden Quaintance, North Pitt’sJones, and Grace Christian’s Strong.

So here are some highlights from Monday’s news conference — including the latest on where Strong might attend college.

Jackson at the point?

Jackson, the 6-4 guard from Our Saviour Lutheran High in the Bronx, N.Y., is considered a shooting guard. But he acknowledged that he has been working at the point guard position.

“I’m always looking to evolve,” Jackson said Monday.

The Tar Heels might be in need of a point guard next season, with R.J. Davis considering whether to return for a fifth year and backup Elliot Cadeau the subject of transfer talk.

“Part of my game is being able to evolve,” Jackson added. “Being a 1 (point guard) is part of that evolution.”

Jackson appeared on stage in Houston with Powell, a fellow UNC commit who said he also is working in a number of roles.

“I feel I can score, as well as be a playmaker,” said Powell, a 6-5 shooting guard in high school. “I’ll do whatever is needed to help.”

Ranking the Blue Devils

Flagg, a 6-9 forward from Montverde (Fla.) Academy, and North Meck’s Evans were asked by media to rank their top three Duke players of all time.

Flagg’s picks: Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, and R.J. Barrett.

Evans’s choices: Cam Reddish, Brandon Ingram, and Banchero.

Incidentally, Flagg and Evans shared the stage with Duke women’s commit Arianna Roberson, and her top three picks were: Chelsea Gray, Ashlyn Jackson, and Tatum.

Flagg and Evans were asked if they felt any pressure to help a Duke program that fell one game short of the Final Four this season.

“No,” Evans said. “We’ll have our own journey. I think we’ll make everyone proud.”

“We haven’t even gotten there yet,” Flagg added. “We’ll have our time.”

In a scrimmage Sunday, Flagg spent much of his time playing against Rutgers commit Ace Bailey, a 6-8 forward from McEachern (Ga.) High, and some analysts said they expect the two to square off Tuesday night, with Flagg playing for the East and Bailey for the West.

For his part, Flagg wasn’t buying into the hoopla.

“He’s a great player — versatile, well-rounded,” Flagg said of Bailey. “But I’m not focusing on any specific matchups. I’m just playing to win.”

Oh ... and when asked what sport he might be playing if not for basketball, Flagg didn’t hesitate.

“Golf,” he said. “I’ve gotten into it recently.”

Alarm clock — ugh!

Jones, the 5-7 North Pitt guard who’s headed to N.C. State, didn’t hesitate when asked about the biggest challenge she’s faced in preparing for Tuesday’s game.

“Waking up early,” she said, eliciting some laughter from the media. “I don’t go to school until 2 in the afternoon. This waking up early ... I’m not big on that.”

An explanation: Jones has finished all her high school work except for one class, which begins at 2 p.m. each school day. She is required to take two courses, to be eligible for high school sports, so she takes the other course online.

Jones gave an enthusiastic boost to the Wolfpack women’s team, which has reached the Final Four.

“We just need to do what we do best — play ball,” she said. “We do that, and we win.”

Strong’s choice

Grace Christian’s Strong is among six McDonald’s All American players who remains uncommitted on a college choice. Strong recently narrowed her choices to North Carolina, Duke and UConn, but she gave no hints Monday as to which might be the favorite.

“I’m a relations person,” she said. “I want to play on a family-based team.”

“And I want to play in the WNBA,” Strong added. “I want a (college) team that will help push me that way.”

She was asked if she ever thought about life after basketball, and Strong responded, “I haven’t even thought about that. I’ve wanted for a long time to play professional basketball. That is my focus.”

Girls’ rosters

EAST

Mikayla Blakes, 6-0, G, Rutgers Preparatory School (NJ) ... Vanderbilt

Kendall Dudley, 6-2, G, Sidwell Friends School (DC) ... UCLA

Joyce Edwards, 6-2, F, Camden (SC) High ... South Carolina

Kayleigh Heckel, 5-9, G, Long Island Lutheran (NY) ... Southern Cal

Zam Jones, 5-7, G, North Pitt High ... N.C. State

Kateryna Koval, 6-4, C, Long Island Lutheran (NY) ... Notre Dame

Madison McDaniel, 5-9, G, Bishop McNamara High (MD) ... South Carolina

Olivia Olson, 6-1, G, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (MN) ... Michigan

Zania Socka-Nguemen, 6-3, F, Sidwell Friends School (DC) ... UCLA

Sarah Strong, 6-2, F, Grace Christian ... uncommitted

Syla Swords, 6-0, W, Long Island Lutheran (NY) ... Michigan

Berry Wallace, 6-1, W, Pickerington (OH) Central High ... Illinois

WEST

Imari Berry, 5-10, G, Clarksville (TN) High ... uncommitted

Jaloni Cambridge, 5-8, G, Montverde Academy (FL) ... Ohio State

Justice Carlton, 6-2, F, Seven Lakes (TX) High ... Texas

Morgan Cheli, 6-2, G, Archbishop Mitty High (CA) ... UConn

Avery Howell, 5-11, G, Boise (ID) High ... Southern Cal

Jordan Lee, 6-0, W, Saint Mary’s High (CA) ... Texas

Alivia McGill, 5-9, G, Hopkins (MN) High ... Florida

Me’Arah O’Neal, 6-3, C, Episcopal (TX) High ... Florida

Mackenly Randolph, 6-0, F, Sierra Canyon (CA) High ... uncommitted

Arianna Roberson, 6-4, F, Clark (TX) High ... Duke

Kennedy Smith, 6-1, W, Etiwanda (CA) High ... Southern Cal

Allie Ziebell, 5-10, G, Neenah (WI) High ... UConn

Boys’ rosters

EAST

Jalil Bethea, 6-4, G, Archbishop Wood (PA) ... Miami (Fla.)

John Bol, 7-1, C, Overtime Elite Academy (GA) ... Ole Miss

Isaiah Evans, 6-7, F, North Mecklenburg ... Duke

Cooper Flagg, 6-9, F, Montverde Academy (FL) ... Duke

Johnuel Fland, 6-2, G, Archbishop Stepinac (NY) ... Kentucky

Ian Jackson, 6-4, F, Our Saviour Lutheran (NY) ... North Carolina

Liam McNeeley, 6-7, F, Montverde Academy (FL) ... Indiana

Tahaad Pettiford, 5-10, G, Hudson (NJ) Catholic Regional ... Auburn

Drake Powell, 6-5, G, Northwood High ... North Carolina

Jayden Quaintance, 6-9, F, Word of God Christian ... Kentucky

Derik Queen, 6-9, C, Montverde Academy (FL) ... uncommitted

Bryson Tucker, 6-7, F, Bishop O’Connell (VA) High ... uncommitted

WEST

Ace Bailey, 6-8, F, McEachern High (GA) ... Rutgers

Flory Bidunga, 6-9, C, Kokomo (IN) High ... Kansas

Carter Bryant, 6-8, F, Centennial High (CA) ... Arizona

Vazoumana Diallo, 6-3, G, Prolifice Prep of Napa Christian (CA) ... Washington

Valdez Edgecombe Jr., 6-4, G, Long Island (NY) Lutheran ... Baylor

Donavan Freeman, 6-7, F, IMG Academy (FL) ... Syracuse

Dylan Harper, 6-5, G, Don Bosco Prep (NJ) ... Rutgers

Richard Johnson, 6-6, G, Link Academy (MO) ... Texas

Karter Knox, 6-6, G, Overtime Elite Academy (GA) ... uncommitted

Trent Perry, 6-4, G, Harvard-Westlake School (CA) ... Southern Cal

Derrion Reid, 6-7, F, Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA) ... Alabama

Aiden Sherrell, 6-11, C, Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA) ... Alabama