(1-12-17) The selection process of the McDonald’s All-American team has come under some fire after an SSN article – How players are selected for the McDonald’s All-American game was shared with a prep basketball writer in Chicago.
Below is a Twitter conversation between a prep basketball writer from Chicago and SSN
XXXXXXXXX @xxxxxxxxxx (his intital tweet)
Don’t get worked up about the burger company all-american nominations. Totally meaningless. They basically name anyone a coach suggests.
Dave Schmidt – SSN @ssndschmidt
@xxxxxxxxxx How players are selected for the McDonald’s All-American game- https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2017/01/11/is-the-mcdonalds-all-american-game-a-big-deal-yep/
XXXXXXXXX @xxxxxxxxxx
@ssndschmidt that has nothing to do with what I’m referring to.
Dave Schmidt – SSN @ssndschmidt
@xxxxxxxxxx the entire process of nominating a player, to selection process is in the story , including who can nominate players
XXXXXXXXX @xxxxxxxxxx
@ssndschmidt except that isn’t what really happens. those nominations have nothing to do with who is selected.
Dave Schmidt – SSN @ssndschmidt
@xxxxxxxxxx info came straight from game officials in a reply to my email, straight from person who oversees it
XXXXXXXXX @xxxxxxxxxx
@ssndschmidt a selection committee picks the team. they don’t care (or even know) who gets nominated. what they told you is the PR.
In an email reply to SSN from the McDonald’s All-American selection committee:
We do accept all eligible nominees that high school coaches/athletic directors submit. The nominees represent the good in high school basketball. It is an honor for these student-athletes to be considered deserving and worthy by their high school coaches who have worked with them during their high school careers.
We list the nominees on our website because if a coach feels that they have a candidate worthy of a nomination and takes the time to submit that nomination we should recognize that player for their hard work and loyalty to their high school programs. It may not be a big deal to some people but is a complement and big deal to the nominee that their high school coach or athletic department think that highly of them as a person and student-athlete.
We do have a selection committee that does pick the team. Selection takes place through a balloting system vote:
- 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.
Our committee members are given the list of (all) nominees to review. Members do have the opportunity to nominate additional candidates if they feel someone has not been nominated that is deserving. Candidates cannot move forward to selection if they have not been nominated.
- Top 100 Consensus List
o Selection Committee members submit their Top 100 national players based on the nominations submitted during the nomination period.
o A Top 100 Consensus list is created from these lists.
o The Top 100 Consensus list is then presented to the members to review.
o Committee members are given the opportunity to add any player they feel is deserving of but not on the list.
- First Ballot
o Committee is given the Top 100 Consensus List
o Committee is to choose their top 50 players
o Each vote at this level is worth one point
o Votes are tallied and scored.
o The Top 50 vote getters advance to the second ballot.
- Second Ballot
o Ballot consists of the top 50+ players based on total number of votes per player voted on by the Committee; there maybe more than 50 due to ties; not usually more than 55 though
o Committee members are to vote for their top 30 choices
o Each vote at this level is worth one point
o Votes are tallied and scored.
o The Top 30 vote getters advance to the second ballot.
III. Final Ballot
o Weighted Ballot consisting of the top 30+ players based on total number of votes per player voted on by the Committee; there maybe more than 30 due to ties; not usually more than 33 though
o Committee is to vote for their top 25 players
o Committee members vote for players based on:
- Point guard
- Shooting guard
- Forward / wing
- Power forward
- Center
o The Committee is to vote five (5) players per position
- First choice vote is worth five (5) points
- Second choice vote is worth four (4) points
- Third choice vote is worth three (3) points
- Fourth choice vote is worth two (2) points
- Fifth choice vote is worth one (1) point
o Votes are totaled and scored.
- Selection
o The top 24 vote getters advance and are named to the McDonald’s All American Team.
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