Its that time of year again; we are entering March Madness.
While March Madness directs most of your attention to college basketball, there are 48 high schoolers who will be making noise in Chicago. On April 1st, McDonald’s All American will have its 38th annual boys game and 14th annual girls game. The showcase will feature the nations best with a girls and boys game along with a Powerade Jam Fest. This year’s teams were selected from more than 800 nominees by the McDonald’s All American Games selection committee. In addition to the 48 players selected, four prep coaches from Maryland, Illinois, Arkansas and Idaho were named coaches for the 2015 Games. John Hutchcraft of Guy-Perkins High School in Guy, Arkansas, will lead the girls East Team, while Emery Roy of Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho will coach the girls West Team. Bruce Kelley of Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, will lead the boys East Team, and local Chicago coach Robert Smith of Simeon Career Academy will serve as head coach of the boys West Team.
“The McDonald’s All American Games is a gathering of the very best high school basketball talent and offers a preview of the next basketball superstars,” said Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald’s All American Games. “Fans in Chicago and those watching across the country on TV will get the first look at the newest young stars. We can‘t wait to see them take the court on April 1.”
While the festivities highlight some of the nation’s best, it’s also an opportunity to give back. Net proceeds from the games benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Since its inception, the McDonald’s All American Games have raised more than $11 million for the Charity.
The Powerade Jam Fest will feature many of the players in a skills competition, three-point shootout and dunk contest. The Jam Fest will air March 30th at 7pm CST on ESPN2. McDonald’s All American games will be televised, April 1 on ESPN at 8pm CST.
Below are the top 6 kids you should be looking for. The entire roster can be seen at McDonaldsAllAmerican.com
1. Ben Simmons of Montverde Academy- LSU commit.
2. Jaylen Brown of Wheeler High- Not committed but has offers from UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Michigan.
3. Brandon Ingram of Kinston High- Not committed but has offers from UNC, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Kentucky
4. Katie Lou Samuelson of Mater Dei High- UCONN Commit
5. Destinee Walker of Lake Oakland Prep- UNC Commit
6. Kyra Lambert of Samuel Clemons- Duke Commit