CHICAGO – The future of basketball was revealed today when the McDonald’s All American Games rosters were officially announced on NBA TV with hundreds of prep stars awaiting their selection with baited breath.
Call them “Super Size” players but they are simply the best but earning the right to be called a McDonald’s All American brings big-time street cred. And the players know it and make it one of their bucket-list items as they matriculate from the grassroots to college or the pros.
The 48 players, 24 boys and 24 girls, will participate in the games to played at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 2. The Jam Fest is April 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The McDonald’s All American Girls Game will air on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the boys will immediately follow on ESPN at 9 p.m.
Girls rosters
East
Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.); Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka-Ngueman, Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.); Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.); Kayleigh Heckel, Syla Swords and Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (N.C.); Madisen McDaniel, Bishop McNamara, (Forestville, Md.); Olivia Olson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.); Sarah Strong, Grace Christian School (Sanford, N.C.); Berry Wallace, Pickerington (Ohio) Central.
Coach:Fran Burbidge, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.).
West
Imari Berry, Clarksville (Tenn.); Jaloni Cambridge (G): Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Houston); Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); Avery Howell, Boise (Idaho); Jordan Lee, Saint Mary’s, (Stockton, Calif.); Alivia McGill, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.); Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Houston); MacKenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Arianna Roberson, San Antonio (Texas) Clark; Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Calif.); Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wis.).
Coach:Ann Fritz, Blue Valley (Kan.) North.
Boys rosters
East
Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.); John Bol, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.); Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Derik Queen, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; BoogieFland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.); Ian Jackson, Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.); Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); Drake Powell, Northwood High School (N.C.); Jayden Quaintance, Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.); Bryson Tucker, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.).
Coach:Sharman White, Pace Academy (Atlanta).
West
Ace Bailey, McEachern a.); Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.); Carter Bryant, Corona (Calif.); Zoom Diallo, Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.); VJ Edgecombe, Jr., Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Donavan Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); Richard Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.); Karter Knox, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.).
Coach: Tommy Brakel, North Crowley, (Fort Worth, Texas).
The McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee said 729 girls and boys student-athletes were nominated. This class of nominees are vying for a spot among high school basketball’s elite company – joining names such as Candace Parker, Trae Young, Caitlin Clark, Jayson Tatum Kevin Durant and Breanna Stewart.
This year’s nominees span far and wide with 43 states plus the District of Columbia. Players were nominated by a high school coach, athletic director, principal or member of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee based upon these criteria.
Tickets to the 2024 McDonald’s All American Games and the Jam Fest can be found here.
