ATLANTA, Ga.—The “Drive-Thru” for McDonald’s has moved south.. After seven years in Chicago and the United Center, the McDonald’s All-American games are on tap Wednesday night in Phillips Arena located in downtown Atlanta. There’s still plenty of luster on the Golden Arches and the rosters represent the majority of the “who’s who” in the 2018 class for both the girls and boys games. While the location has changed the schedule for the 17th annual girl’s ultimate Happy Meal has kept all 24 of the girl’s honorees busy since their arrival’s Sunday.
Utilizing the impressive practice facility of the Atlanta Hawks, both the East and West squads have gotten in three practices as well as competed in a scrimmage on the game floor in Phillips Arena Tuesday afternoon. Monday, the annual Powerade Jam Fest followed a visit earlier in the day by all the participants to the Ronald McDonald House, beneficiary of the McDonald’s All American Games. Tuesday evening the Awards reception and ring ceremony was slated for the World of Coca-Cola. Wednesday’s game tips at 5:00 pm and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The boy’s game will follow on ESPN at 7 pm.
The girls roster, announced in late January, features players representing 12 different states. Texas holds geographical bragging rights with seven athletes. Tennessee can claim three more while four other states have two. Six additional states have one native daughter in Atlanta. From the college conference standpoint, the Big 12 and ACC both have seven who are destined for their campuses next fall while the SEC has four additions to their rosters for next season. Baylor will have four in green next year, while Tennessee will suit up three more in Knoxville followed by Connecticut, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Texas with two apiece. Six Gatorade state Players of the Year are on hand including National Player of the Year, Christyn Williams of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Williams is also the recipient of the prestigious Morgan Wootten Award representing not only on floor performance but schoolwork and community affairs.
Monday night’s Powerade Jam Fest saw McKenzie Forbes (Folsom, Calif.) claim top three point honors over both her peers on the girls roster as well as those from the boys side. Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Winder, Ga.) took part in the slam dunk competition and made her way to the finals before bowing out while posting a perfect score of 100 along the way. Not to be outdone, Williams collected more hardware to take home by way of her Legends and Stars Shootout win with Romeo Langford and Candice Wiggins.
Today we share a couple of images of each McDonald’s All American from practice sessions leading up to Wednesday night’s game. Check back with Blue Star Media for additional coverage from Atlanta following the game.
