In the past the McDonald’s and WBCA All-American games have been the double–double of elite post season recognition for scholastic girls basketball. In an era and economy where commitment, support and sponsorship dollars are hard to find, first class national events are being replaced by a slew of local and regional glorified All-Star open gyms. While the Golden Arches are still the gold standard nationally, the WBCA has stepped back this year choosing only to name an All-American team rather than produce a game that has previously been run in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four and WBCA Coaches Convention.
SchollyMe, the only NCAA Certified Sports Social Network in the country, has stepped into the breach and is presenting the first Annual SchollyMe All-World Game on April 19th in Irvine, California. Before folks make the ego based accusations regarding the “All-World” moniker, it’s in deference to two participants from Canada, one from Columbia and yet another from Serbia. It’s hard to carry the All-American banner with a foreign passport in your pocket!
Titles aside, next to McDonald’s, SchollyMe is providing the largest national platform to showcase some of the elite players in the 2014 class. Prentice Beverly of SchollyMe and the Director of Balln Prep Girls offered up these thoughts on the inaugural All-World Game.
“Once we heard that WBCA was no longer having an All-American game, myself and SchollyMe CEO Melvin Nunnery wanted to provide a way to reward some of the world’s best female student athletes for their outstanding high school careers. In doing so, we also saw a great opportunity get the word out about SchollyMe and the resources athletes of all sports can enjoy by signing up with SchollyMe. And we couldn’t think of a better place than sunny Southern California for the players, families and fans to enjoy all the fun.”
Concordia University will serve as home court for all the action including three other all-star caliber events. SchollyMe is also presenting a 2018 Rising Stars Girls Game, a 2018 Elite Boys Game as well as a California High School All-State Boys battle. Things get underway at 4:00 with the Rising Stars game followed at 5:30 by the Elite Boys. The All-World Game takes the main stage at 6:30 and the day wraps up with an 8:00 tip for the Boy’s All-State Game.
Two rosters will feature 24 players from 10 states as well as the earlier referenced participants from north and south of the boarder and across the pond. California leads the way with eight selections while the Lone Star State of Texas followed with three of their own. The Pac-12 will enjoy the services of nine players; the SEC will see seven in uniform next season while the ACC will see four others on their rosters. One half of the participants will also carry the title of McDonald’s All-American as they expand the geography of their resume to include “All-World” status.
Here are the 24 participants for the Inaugural SchollyMe All–World Game
Ariel Atkins – Duncanville, Texas – Texas
Chyanne Butler – Corona, California – USC
McKenzie Calvert – Shertz, Texas – USC
Jordin Canada – Los Angeles, California – UCLA
Chase Coley – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Iowa
Mikayla Cowling – Benicia, California – California
Bianca Cuevas – Brooklyn, New York – South Carolina
LaJahna Drummer – Los Angeles, California – UCLA
Kortney Dunbar – Edwardsville, Illinois – Tennessee
Audrey-Ann Goudreau – Gatineau, Quebec – Canada – Vanderbilt
Khaleann Goudreau – Gatineau, Quebec – Canada – Vanderbilt
Gabby Green – Oakland, California – California
Myisha Hines-Allen – Montclair, New Jersey – Louisville
Brooke McCarty – League City, Texas – Texas
Alexa Middleton – Murfreesboro, Tennessee – Tennessee
Mariya Moore – Hercules, California – Louisville
Amy Okonkwo – Rancho Cucamonga, California – USC
Danica Piper – Kinkida, Serbia – Georgia Tech
Taylor Rooks – Warren, New Jersey – Stanford
Kristen Simon – Los Angeles, California – USC
Camila Tapias – Bogota, Columbia – Uncommitted
Victoria Vivians – Forest, Mississippi – Mississippi State
Kathryn Westbeld – Kettering, Ohio – Notre Dame
Jatarie White – Charlotte, North Carolina – South Carolina
