(1-11-17) This week nominations for the Annual McDonald’s All-American Games were announced.  Names of players from all across the nation were released.  It’s also a time for those who follow high school basketball start the discussion  of why certain players  are not on the list. There is a process that starts on September 1st of every year to find the next group of All-Americans.

2017 McDonald’s All American Games Nominees

How does a player get nominated and selected to participate in the games?

Below is the process for a player to be considered and to be selected to play in the game.

McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Games

Player Nomination and Selection Process

Updated September 2015

The McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Games feature the top 24 boy and 24 girl players from high schools throughout the United States and sets itself apart from other comparable events in that players are selected based on a systematic voting process.   The Selection Committee, led by committee chair Morgan Wootten, is composed of basketball experts from across the country that review prospect’s fundamental talents and athleticism in the committee’s effort to identify to the top 48.  The following elements are taken into serious consideration when selecting a McDonald’s All American.

Athletic Achievement

  • Player’s accomplishments on the hardwood.
  • High school career:  All evaluations and nominations are based on the individual player’s fundamental skill level and athleticism.
  • Player’s Accolades

Scholastic Achievement

  • All nominees must be eligible to participate under the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) or other comparable organization.
  • A nominee is eligible to be a McDonald’s All American if he or she is deemed eligible to participate under their high school and governing league policies.
  • Each nominee must be a high school senior.
  • Nominees cannot have repeated a grade once they have entered the 9th grade.
  • Nominees cannot have their 19th birthday before September 1st of senior year.
  • Each nominee may only have participated in eight semesters of high school athletics.
  • Player must be academically eligible to participate with their high school team based on their school and league requirements.

Behavior

  • Players who have been convicted of a felony are not permitted.
  • Players who have been charged with a felony with a case pending are not permitted.
  • Players who have a history of “getting in trouble” with either the law (i.e. misdemeanor), at school, during extracurricular activities, and/or at home may be excluded pending feedback from their principal, athletic director, coach, league officials, and/or community leaders.
  • The Selection Committee will review on a case-by-case basis.

Nomination Process

  • Nominations are submitted online at mcdaag.com  between Sept. 1st thru Dec. 1st of the candidate’s senior year.
  • Nominations can only be submitted by:

o    High School Varsity Coach

o    High School Athletic Director

o    High School Principal or Head of School

o    Selection Committee Member

Selection Process

Selection takes place through a balloting system vote that is submitted by a collective group of prominent basketball community members.

  • Votes are confidential.
  • Committee members are instructed not to discuss any of the balloting results or nominees outside of the internal committee.
  • At no time, should any Committee member solicit information or opinions pertaining to any nominee’s athletic talent or basketball career.
  • Each member submits his or her individual votes via a confidential and closed balloting system.  The results are tabulated from all voters and the top 24 vote getters compromise the McDonalds All American Teams.

Take a look at who has played in this classic over the years.

ALL-AMERICAN GAME LEADERS (Boys)

Points Scored
31 -Jonathan Bender -West, ’99
30- Michael Jordan -East, ’81
28- Eddy Curry -West, ’01
28- Paul Pierce -West, ’95
28 -Chris Webber -West, ’91
27 -LeBron James -East, ’03
27 -Jerry Stackhouse -East, ’93
27 -John Williams -West, ’84
26 -J.J. Redick -East, ’02
25 -Kevin Durant -West, ’06

Assists
13 -Jacque Vaughn -West, ’93
13- Lonzo Ball -West 16
12 -Andre Barrett -East, ’00
12 -Erick Barkley -West, ’98
11 -Sebastian Telfair -East, ’04
11- Brett Nelson -West, ’99
11 -Adrian Autry -East, ’90
10- Chris Paul -East, ’03
10- Stephen Marbury -East, ’95
10 -Tyus Jones -East 14
10- Bobby Hurley East, ’89

Steals
10 -Khalid Reeves -East, ’90
7 -Jordan Farmar -West, ’04
6 -Dell Curry -East, ’82
6-Michael Jordan -East, ’81

Rebounds
24- Sam Perkins -East, ’80
21- Othella Harrington -West, ’92
16 -Shaquille O’Neal West, ’89
16 -Dallas Comegys -East, ’83
16 -John Williams -West, ’84
16 -Rudy Woods -West, ’78
15 -Zach Randolph -West, ’00
15- Derrick Coleman -West, ’86
15 -Teddy Grubbs -West, ’79

Just by looking at the above list of names on the all-time list for scoring, rebounding, steals and assists and you can see it is a very impressive group of super stars.

To play in this game or even be nominated for the game is a big honor. The players start to receive national attention as soon as the nominations are released. Now that high school sports, like basketball and football, are gaining more and more national attention it’s a great venue for these players to perform on.  Media coverage includes ESPN, from the first practice until the after the game, plus numerous national media sites make it a point to cover the games.

This year’s game will once again be played at the United Center in Chicago.

March 29 2017:

  • 16th Annual McDonald’s All American Games (Girls)
    – Broadcast on ESPNU
  • 40th Annual McDonald’s All American Games (Boys)
    – Broadcast on ESPN

 

ALL-AMERICAN GAME LEADERS (Girls)

Points Scored
25    Sabrina Ionescu    West    16
23    Elizabeth Williams    East, ’11
22    Alexis Hornbuckle    East, ’04
21    Meighan Simmons    West, ’10
21    Ann Strother    West, ’02
21    Shanna Zolman    East, ’02
21    Te’a Omari Cooper West 15
21    Amber Ramirez    East    16
20    Nirra Fields    West, ’12
20    Natasha Howard    East, ’10
19    Marissa Coleman    East, ’05
19    Candace Parker    West, ’04
19    Stephanie Watts    West    15
19    Shakayla Thomas    East    14

Assists
7    Jordin Canada    West    14
6    Jasmine Thomas    East, ’07
6    Kyra Lambert    West    15
6    Kelsey Mitchell    East    14
6    Crystal Dangerfield    16
5    Niya Johnson    East, ’12
5    Natasha Howard    East, ’10
5    Eliza Pierre    West, ’09
5    Erin Grant    West, ’02
5    Shanna Zolman    East, ’02
5    Ali Patberg    East    15
5    Destiny Slocum    West    16

Blocks
9    Alison Bales    East, ’03
6    Ashley Gayle    West, ’08
6    Stephanie Mavunga East, ’13
5    Katie Collier    West, ’12
5    Joslyn Tinkle    East, ’09
5    Amanda Thompson    West, ’06
5    Sara Hammond    East, ’11
5    Amber Henson    East, ’11

Rebounds
14    Kelly Cain    East    07
13    Madison Williams    West, ’10
13    Stephanie Mavunga    East    13
12    Bashaara Graves    East, ’12
12    Kayla Pedersen    West, ’07
12    Courtney Paris    West, ’05
12    Seimone Augustus    East, ’02
11    Elizabeth Williams    East, ’11
11    Elena Delle Donne    East, ’08
11    Willnett Crockett    West, ’02
10    Tierra Ruffin-Pratt    West, ’09
10    Candace Parker    West, ’04
10    Brianna Turner    West    14
10    Lauren Cox    West    16
10    Sabrina Ionescu    West    16
10    Tierra Ruffin-Pratt West ’09
10    Tye’sha Fluker West, ‘02

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