If you watched the 2015 McDonald’s All-American game last night, you probably didn’t come away with an overwhelming feeling about the future of college basketball and beyond. 

The nation’s best high schoolers were, well, rusty. Or inefficient. Or maybe it was just wasn’t a good game on a big stage. Sometimes that happens. 

The takeaway from the entire McDonald’s week was this: Brandon Ingram may have been the collective MVP of the entire experience. The Kinston, N.C. native showed off what we’ve seen around here at Suwanee Sports Academy for the last couple of years - he’s very good and might be one of the best long-term prospects in America. 

Ingram has starred at SSA several times over. You could see it then. He had immense star power and potential. I cautiously compared him to Kevin Durant two years ago. I don’t think I missed the mark. 

So, it begs the question…if Ingram is the next Durant (or something like him) does that make him a potential No. 1 prospect in this 2015 class? Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons go 1 and 2, respectively, on my list right now. 

I’ve always ranked based on long term, rather than the here and the now. It is a subjective view, no doubt, but I start with the highest level with the highest level prospects. The NBA is the baseline mark to judge the best of the best. Ingram, according to many that work at the NBA level, could be the best pro of the class. 

So, why not make him No. 1? Will I? Not sure. Brown and Simmons have a great body of work to cement them at their current positions. It would be hard to overlook what both guys have done and could do moving forward. 

But the NBA loves size. The entire league is filled with DNA lottery winners. Ingram has a winning ticket. He’s the most unique player (physically) in the class of 2015. Check out that length. He uses those arms to shoot over the defense on the wing. And he’s really good at that. 

People ask me all the time if we (meaning rivals.com) should have ranked Durant No. 1 overall in the class of 2006 instead of Greg Oden. I’ve always answered with an emphatic no. That said, few of us ever really considered putting Durant No. 1. We should have. 

I bring that up because Ingram could be a similar player. Was he considered for No. 1 overall in the class? Everyone keeps saying he’s one of the best long term guys in the class. Everyone keeps saying he could be the best pro. Everyone likes what Ingram can become.  

In recruiting and evaluation, the word “potential” scares people. It shouldn’t. Ingram proves that. He’s the definition of it. Embrace it. Enjoy the show. Watch the development of a star happen. It is fun to see that. In fact, we’ve seen that with Brown, too. He didn’t enter the conversation as a top dog. He worked at it. 

Potential is a great word. It is even better when potential is realized and worked towards. With Ingram, we could be wondering why he wasn’t No. 1 overall in the class eight years from now.