CHICAGO, Ill.—McDonald’s is the standard bearer among American fast food and when it comes to All-American basketball their offerings consistently provide nothing but fine dining. While this year’s game itself was less than competitive, many of the players that recruiters, evaluators and media alike have been watching closely reminded us of why they’ve been ranked among the best in the class from day one. Wednesday’s night game provided a full “menu” of quality individual play and glimpses of the next generation of college standouts.
If you’re looking for the Big Mac you would need to look no further than MVP Mercedes Russell. The Tennessee bound 6-5 post is the combination of size, agility and skills that causes defensive nightmares for opposing players and coaches. Her 7 for 10 shooting from the floor led to a 16 point effort that combined with 12 rebounds and three blocks and has the Lady Vol faithful anxiously awaiting her arrival in Knoxville.
Russell would also be part of the “McDouble” along with Jordan Reynolds who will be joining her in wearing orange the next four seasons. Both athletes call Oregon home, both are Tennessee signees, both were named McDonald’s All-Americans and just to complete the analogy, both produced double-doubles in the game. As mentioned above, Russell finished with 16 points and 12 boards while the explosive Reynolds came home with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Should you be looking for a “McDonald’s Shake” Tyler Scaife more than fit the bill in Chicago. Though her 15 point production came on just 5 of 13 shooting, nobody in the United Center would tell you her attack wasn’t dynamic and even creative at times. Utilizing an explosive change of direction, the Rutgers commit got deep in traffic time and again yet still found a way to get her shots off among the bigs. Additionally she got to the line seven times, contributed four assists and added three steals.
The current McDonald’s menu features an Angus Deluxe and if Diamond DeShields doesn’t fit the bill, I’m not sure who does. The Blue Star top ranked player in the 2013 class and future North Carolina Tar Heel has a college ready game that is on an par with most athletes who have already been on campus a couple of years. While her 7 of 20 from the floor and 1 of 7 from three point range won’t be the numbers that will keep Coach Hatchell happy, her aggressive, high flying assault on opposing defenses can’t be ignored and can even be productive even on off nights.
If it’s a “combo meal” that interests you, the Number One on the board has to be Kentucky bound Linnae Harper. Harper may not be “supersized” but she can compete anywhere from the point to the post. The hometown crowd favorite in this year’s McDonald’s All-American game may not have dominated the stat sheet ( 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals) but it would be hard to say she didn’t dominate the floor. Whether it’s on offense or defense few are as versatile, aggressive and ruthlessly competitive as Harper. She can create both shots and passes off the dribble, attack effectively inside and crash the offensive boards in a way that would make Dennis Rodman proud. She may not post up in Lexington as she’s done on the high school level but there won’t be a need at the pace the Wildcats will be playing.
Calling someone the “Quarter Pounder” is hardly an insult. It’s just simply the thing that McDonalds sells best (hamburgers) times two. Stephanie Mavunga, who’s headed to Chapel Hill with DeShields, often impacts the game as if there were two of her out there. Fierce, assertive, and physical, the 6-3 forward plays the game as if her next meal depended on it. A 3 of 15 shooting night frustrated the Tar Heel to be but she created her own looks and continued to attack despite the frosty (all apologies to Wendy’s) results. She still pulled 13 rebounds and blocked six shots, game highs in both catagories.
Several players might come in under the McNugget category. Not because they’re small but because they offer you a diverse game with a little of this and a little of that. And the level they do it on, well that’s where the sauce comes in. With size on the wing and perimeter you have to love Kaela Davis (Georgia Tech) and Taya Reimer (Notre Dame). They can get to the rim, they can spot up and shoot it or they post up if the match-up call for it. Davis got 10 points on 5 for 10 shooting Wednesday while Reimer (the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award Winner) had an off night finishing with just two points and three blocks. In the backcourt you get the same diversification of skills with players like Lexie Brown (Maryland), Rebekah Dahlman (Vanderbilt) or Kelsey Plum (Washington). All can hurt you in so many different ways that their game is like a 20 piece meal, filling and effective for the appetite of any coach.
Since the Filet of Fish sandwich has sales that soar during lent (which ironically occurs down the stretch of basketball season) and Rebecca Greenwell happens to attend Owensboro Catholic back home in Kentucky, we’ll tag her with this one. Though limited to just nine minutes of play before going down with issues to the same knee she previously had surgically repaired, the soon to be Duke Blue Devil was off to a hot start. Opening up 3 of 5 from the floor and 2 for 3 from long range, she had 8 points before being forced to leave the game. Though limping and struggling to put weight on the leg, Greenwell still went to the line preparing to shoot free throws before more objective minds prevailed and nixed the idea.
While all the menu references are tongue in cheek and for fun, both the players and the McDonald’s corporation offer up the very best of what they do. All-Star games are not the kind of things that people remember who won years later or even who did or did not play well. It’s the recognition by those knowledgeable in the sport and the participation that will live on with each and every player selected. It’s also the contributions of McDonalds to not only the All-American game but the Ronald McDonald House and much, much more that set them apart from the crowd as well.
In closing, I would say the Happy Meals out there will be the college coaches welcoming all of this year’s McDonald’s participants and…I’m sorry, I can’t pass this one up…Notre Dame bound Lindsay Allen who would absolutely have to be a Shamrock Shake!
