When did St. Louis last host the McDonald’s All-American Game?

ST. LOUIS – Although St. Louis doesn’t have a professional basketball team, the city once hosted some of the nation’s top young talent through the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game.

The McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball game is a prestigious annual event that brings together the nation’s top high school basketball prospects, many of whom are on the path to becoming future NBA stars.

The 2025 McDonald’s All American Games, girls and boys, are set for Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

And nearly 30 years ago to this date, the event was held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, then known as the Kiel Center.

The game was played on April 2, 1995, in front of a sold-out crowd. It featured an abundance of future professional basketball stars like Stephon Marbury and Shammgod Wells, as well as future Basketball Hall of Famers in Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

According to Basketball Network, the game was highlighted by performances from future Boston Celtics teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. As teammates on the West roster, Pierce scored 28 points and Garnett recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, earning him MVP honors of the game.

The West roster would go on to take a 125-115 victory over the East roster. The East roster was led by performances from guard Ron Mercer, who scored 19 points, and Marbury, who added 11 points and 10 assists.

Although both Pierce and Garnett played exceptionally well in the game, while on the KG Certified podcast, Pierce and Garnett reminisced 30 years later on a moment in practice that prepared them for the high school all-star game.

“Imma tell you though, in practice, ‘Ticket’ (Garnet) was getting killed; I was getting killed,” Pierce reflected. “The East was killing us in practice.”

“We can’t come out like that. They was talking sh*t, high-fiving, then just went off and did their own thing. Bro, I’ll never forget that.” Garnett responded. “We got beat like that, and I was like, there is no way I get on TV and look like that.”

Ultimately, 14 players on the East and West rosters of the 1995 McDonald’s All-American game went on to be drafted to the NBA, according to Stadium Talk.

For Tuesday, the girls matchup of the McDonald’s All American Games will air at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN 2 and the boys matchup will air at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.