ATLANTA, Ga.-The 2019 McDonald’s All American Game wasn’t a “down to the wire affair” but as All Star games go, it had plenty of plays and previews of the next generation of collegiate stars. The East team overcame a slow start to distance themselves over the next two periods and ultimately claim an 83 – 68 win. Jordan Horston (Columbus, Ohio) led the way in the win while claiming the John R. Wooden MVP award. The Tennessee signee had the evening tempered a bit with the news out of Knoxville of the coaching change that became official earlier in the day.
Neither team lit it up from the State Farm Arena floor with the East connecting on 32 of 91 attempts while the West struggled even more knocking down just 25 of 90 shots over the course of the game. The East owned the boards as well grabbing 69 rebounds to outdistance their opponent’s 58. The turnovers were kept to a minimum as the winning East squad gave it up just 13 times and the West had just 15 of their own. Both teams posted eight blocks while the West had nine steals to eight for the East.
Horston finished with 14 points on a 7 of 14 shooting effort from the floor. Florida State signee Sammie Puisis (Mason, Ohio) joined her in double figures with 11 and a 3 for 5 slate from three point range. Aliyah Boston (Worcester, Massachusetts) and Diamond Miller (Somerset, New Jersey) both grabbed 10 rebounds in the win. Boston is a future South Carolina Gamecock while Miller is bound for Maryland.
Rickea Jackson (Detroit, Michigan) and Anaya Peoples (Danville, Illinois) both had 11 in a losing effort for the West. Peoples, a Notre Dame signee, was 4 for 8 from the floor while Mississippi State’s Jackson finished 4 for 14. Powerade Jam Fest Dunk contest winner Fran Belibi (Aurora, Colorado) led the West on the boards with 10 rebounds. Belibi is headed to Palo Alto and Stanford University next year.
Below are individual action shots and stats on all 23 players in action Wednesday night. The 24th All American, Maryland signee Ashley Owusu (Woodbridge, Virginia), was unable to compete while recovering from a foot injury suffered at the end of her scholastic season. Follow the link below to see images from earlier practice sessions in Atlanta posted on Tuesday.
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/mcdonalds-2019/
