ATLANTA, Ga.-For the second year in a row and the fourth time in the 18 year history of the event, the McDonald’s All American Games have returned to Atlanta and State Farm Arena. Announced back in January, 24 of the top girls basketball players across the nation have descended on the Peach State to enjoy the honors and recognition that come with achieving the pinnacle of high school honors and accolades. Of course, there also happens to be both a boys and girls game Wednesday with all of the proceeds once again going to the benefit of Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The girls roster this year has representatives from 13 different states with the Buckeye State of Ohio leading the way with four followed by California and Texas, each with three. As far as future addresses go, South Carolina and Stanford each have three destined for their campus next season while Florida State, Maryland, Notre Dame and UCLA will be welcoming two apiece. Conference bragging rights go to the Pac-12 and their seven with the ACC on their heels with six and the SEC with five.
Having the hashtag of McDonald’s All American next to one’s name is not a guarantee of any future success but it’s a safe bet there’s plenty of possibilities around the corner. Of the combined 10 player All WNBA 2018 first and second teams, seven players can lay claim to McDonald’s heritage. Of the three who cannot, one is from Australia, one graduated before the first girls game was played leaving just one who didn’t actually receive the honor out of high school. On the college level, the WBCA 2018 10 player All American Team featured seven former McDonald’s All Americans while 4 of 5 on the AP First Team earned their Golden Arches as high school seniors.
While the game isn’t scheduled to tip until 5 p.m. EST on ESPN2, a few players have already found some success since their arrival in Atlanta. Topping the list would be Haley Jones (Santa Cruz, California), a Stanford signee, who was named the 2019 Morgan Wooten Player of the Year Tuesday afternoon. Named for the legendary hall of fame coach, the prestigious honor is awarded to a McDonald’s All American boy and girl who demonstrate outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student- athlete through school work and community affairs. James Wiseman (Memphis, Tennessee) was named the boys Player of the Year.
Monday night Stanford signee Fran Belibi (Aurora, Colorado) made national headlines claiming the Powerade Jam Fest dunk contest crown in a field that included seven of her male All American counterparts. Belibi recorded a perfect score on each of her attempts to win the title by just a single point. Notre Dame bound Samantha Brunelle (Ruckersville, Virginia) doubled up winning both the three point competition as well as teaming with Diamond Deshields and boys All American Tyrese Maxey to claim the Legends and Stars Shootout.
The players began arriving in town Saturday evening and have been busy with a trip to Ronald McDonald House, three practices, a scrimmage, Monday’s Powerade Jam Fest as well as a banquet and ring ceremony Tuesday evening. One player having her scheduled limited is future Maryland Terrapin Ashley Owusu (Woodbridge, Virginia) who’s sporting non-Adidas footwear in the form of a boot supporting a broken foot leftover from the end of her scholastic season. Owusu is looking at least four more weeks in the boot and has been limited to just off court activities in Atlanta. Below are images from practice sessions for each of the 2019 All Americans as they prepared for Wednesday’s 18th Annual Girls McDonald’s All American Game.
