McDonald's All-American Game
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for American and Canadian boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball season, in an East vs. West format. As part of the annual event, boys and girls compete in a slam dunk contest, a three-point shooting competition, and an overall timed skills competition. It is rare for girls to compete in the slam dunk contest. However, in 2004 Candace Parker won that very contest. The boys' game has been contested annually since 1978, and the girls game has been played each year since it was added in 2002.
The McDonald's All-American designation began in 1977 with the selection of the inaugural team. That year, the All-Americans played in an all-star game against a group of high school stars from the Washington, D.C. area.[1] The following year, the McDonald's game format of East vs. West was begun with a boys contest. In 2002, with the addition of a girls contest, the current girl-game / boy-game doubleheader format began.
The McDonald's All-American Team is the best-known of the American high-school basketball All-American teams. Designation as a McDonald's All-American instantly brands a player as one of the top high-school players in the United States or Canada.[citation needed] Selected athletes often go on to success in college basketball. Every college team to win the NCAA men's championship since 1978 has had at least one McDonald's All-American on its roster, except for the 2002 Maryland Terrapins[2] and 2014 Connecticut Huskies.[3]
The teams are sponsored by the fast-food chain, McDonald's. Proceeds from the annual games go to local Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and their Ronald McDonald House programs.
35 Greatest Boys McDonald's All-Americans
On January 31, 2012, McDonald's All-American Games unveiled its list of 35 of the Greatest McDonald's All-Americans, released in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the McDonald's All-American High School Boys Basketball Game.[4]
The Greatest Boys McDonald's All-Americans list, includes some of the top names in men's basketball history, and features past and present Olympics, NBA and NCAA stars. The players were selected by members of the McDonald's All-American Games Selection Committee. In determining the list, all past McDonald's All-Americans were considered based on their high school careers and performances in the McDonald's All-American Games, success at the collegiate and professional level, and post-career accomplishments. The full list includes:
- Magic Johnson (1977)
- Clark Kellogg (1979)
- Ralph Sampson (1979)
- Isiah Thomas (1979)
- Dominique Wilkins (1979)
- James Worthy (1979)
- Sam Perkins (1980)
- Glenn "Doc" Rivers (1980)
- Patrick Ewing (1981)
- Michael Jordan (1981)
- Chris Mullin (1981)
- Kenny Smith (1983)
- Danny Manning (1984)
- Larry Johnson (1987)
- Christian Laettner (1988)
- Alonzo Mourning (1988)
- Bobby Hurley (1989)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1989)
- Grant Hill (1990)
- Glenn Robinson (1991)
- Jason Kidd (1992)
- Jerry Stackhouse (1993)
- Vince Carter (1995)
- Kevin Garnett (1995)
- Paul Pierce (1995)
- Kobe Bryant (1996)
- Jay Williams (1999)
- Carmelo Anthony (2002)
- Amar'e Stoudemire (2002)
- LeBron James (2003)
- Chris Paul (2003)
- Dwight Howard (2004)
- Tyler Hansbrough (2005)
- Kevin Durant (2006)
- Derrick Rose (2007)
McDonald's High School All-American Game Results
An MVP/MOP award is presented each year to the most outstanding boy and girl players. The award is officially called the John R. Wooden Most Valuable Player Award.
Boys
| East All-Stars (20 wins) | West All-Stars (21 wins) |
|---|
a Denotes All-Star Games in which joint winners were named
MVP winners
Girls
a Denotes All-Star Games in which joint winners were named
Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year
Prior to each game since 1997 a Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year has been chosen from the field of McDonald's All-Americans based on activity in the community, classroom and on the court.
Past winners have been
- 1997: Shane Battier
- 1998: Ronald Curry
- 1999: Jonathan Bender
- 2000: Chris Duhon
- 2001: Aaron Miles
- 2002: Torin Francis
- 2003: LeBron James
- 2004: Dwight Howard
- 2005: Josh McRoberts
- 2006: Greg Oden
- 2007: Kevin Love
- 2008: Greg Monroe
- 2009: Derrick Favors
- 2010: Harrison Barnes
- 2011: Austin Rivers
- 2012: Shabazz Muhammad
- 2013: Jabari Parker[11]
- 2014: Jahlil Okafor
- 2015: Ben Simmons
- 2016: Lonzo Ball
- 2017: Wendell Carter
- 2018: R. J. Barrett
Sprite/Powerade Jam Fest Award Winners
- Note: The 2004 winner – Candace Parker – is the only female winner.
References
- ^ "McDonald's All American – About the annual McDonald's All American game, a showcase for the top high school players in the country". Basketball.about.com. 2012-03-28. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Littmann, Chris (2010-03-25). "To Win an NCAA Title, You Almost Always Need Some Help from McDonald's – From Our Editors – SBNation.com". Sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ Kussoy, Howie. "UConn defeats Kentucky to win NCAA Championship".
- ^ "McDonald's announces its 35 greatest". ESPN.com. 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ McDonald's All American Games All-time Stats and Award Winners.
- ^ "Presenting McDonald's All American High School Basketball Team for 1986". Ebony. April 1986. p. 12-13.
- ^ "Presenting McDonald's All American High School Basketball Team for 1987". Ebony. April 1987. p. 12-13.
- ^ "Heels don't get their men". Salisburypost.com. 2000-03-30. Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ OP 9000. "DO – Gottlieb likes OSU's chances against Pitt". OrangePower.com. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Olsen, Dan (April 3, 2014). "Bonus Awards From McDonald's Game". ESPNW. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ RecruitingNation: Jabari Parker wins Wootten, ESPN, April 4, 2013.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSQhFcVO9jU