Every year, the fine folks at McDonald’s select 24 of the very best boys and girls high school players to participate in the annual McDonald’s All American Game. It’s high school basketball’s version of an all star game with the participants almost certainly destined for big things on the NCAA and NBA level. After all the game’s fabled list of players include Shaquille O’Neal, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard. This year’s rosters are arguably some of the most potent in years featuring players like Austin Rivers, Michael Gilchrist, and Anthony Davis.
Most of those players commit to big time Division I programs like Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky, which leads all schools this year with 4 commits. But does securing the services of these perceived elite level high school studs guarantee success for their school during March Madness?
When it comes to the most recent McDonald’s alumni from last year, the answer is yes. The 2010 Game’s Co-MVP’s Harrison Barnes and Jared Sullinger both have led their current college squads, North Carolina and Ohio State to the Sweet 16 in this year’s NCAA Tournament. In fact, out of the 16 remaining teams in this year’s Tourney, 8 squads have a McDonald’s player on the roster. Out of those 8 teams, 25 former McDonald’s All Americans still are on the roster.
The run-down goes like this:
Connecticut
Kemba Walker (2008) and Alex Oriakhi (2009)
Duke
Kyle Singler (2007), Nolan Smith (2007), Ryan Kelly (2009), Mason Plumlee (2009), and Kyrie Irving (2010)
Florida
Vernon Macklin (2006), Kenny Boynton (2009), and Patric Young (2010)
Florida State
Chris Singleton (2008) and Michael Snaer (2009)
Kansas
Josh Selby (2010)
Kentucky
Terrence Jones (2010), Brandon Knight (2010), and Doron Lamb (2010)
North Carolina
Tyler Zeller (2010), John Henson (2010), Dexter Stricklan (2010), Harrison Barnes (2010), Reggie Bullock (2010), and Kendall Marshall (2010)
Ohio State
William Buford (2008), Jared Sullinger (2010), and Deshaun Thomas (2010)
Going back over the last 3 decades, 31 out of the last 32 NCAA Championship teams had at least one McDonald’s All American on the roster. The lone exception was the Juan Dixon led 2002 Maryland Terrapins. Digging even deaper, of those 31 championship teams, 97 McDonald’s players were on the rosters for an average of more than 3 per team.
So while I can’t predict the future, it’s a pretty safe bet that one of those 8 teams listed above will win the 2011 National Championship. And in the fall, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, UNC and OSU will reload their rosters, welcoming 12 more McDonald’s All Americans among them.
Watch these incoming stars on March 30 at the 2011 McDonald’s All American Games in Chicago’s famed United Center. The Boys Game will air live on ESPN (around 10PM) immediately following the Girls’ Game (Girls tip at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU). Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com. All proceeds from the 2011 Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.
Check out a video of highlights from every player in this year’s event:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
