Looking at the 2013 McDonald’s All-American game roster reminds me of Elvis Presley’s “Kentucky Rain.” Although it would be spelled “Kentucky Reign.”
The 2013 McDonald’s All-American list will feature top ranked prep talent and Canadian-born Andrew Wiggins (Huntington Prep, W.Va.) playing alongside Chicago hometown hero and former #1 ranked player Jabari Parker of the south side Simeon Wolverines.
Aaron and Andrew Harrison (William B. Tavis – Richmond, Texas) mark the first set of twins since 2009 – the most recent pairs include David and Travis Wear (2009) and Brook and Robin Lopez (2006). So we’ve got Zellers, Plumlees, Wears, and now Harrisons to contend with in college basketball.
The Harrison twins, who will be attending Kentucky in the fall, account for two of the record five 2013 McDonald’s All-American that will be headed to Lexington. Including Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee and James Young.
The previous record of four was held by the Michigan Wolverines (1991), Duke Blue Devils (1999) and Kentucky Wildcats (2011). The Boys Game begins at 8:30 p.m. CDT tonight, live on ESPN.
The annual high school all-star event will again be played at Chicago’s United Center. As it will until 2015. Here’s the full roster.
With the exception of UK, only the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have more than one. The Hoosiers are the lone Big Ten school to recruit one. Much more on that later. What’s UK coach John Calipari’s secret? How does he keep doing this year after year? Aaron Gordon committed to Arizona yesterday at McDonald’s All-American media day.
East Team
Name Pos Hgt High School (Hometown) College
Anthony Barber G 6-2 Hampton, VA (Hampton, VA) NC State
Keith Frazier G 6-5 Justin F. Kimball, TX (Dallas, TX) Undecided
Isaiah Hicks F 6-8 J.F. Webb, NC (Oxford, NC) North Carolina
Kasey Hill G 6-1 Montverde Academy, FL (Montverde, FL) Florida
Demetrius Jackson G 6-1 Marian High, IN (Mishawaka, IN) Notre Dame
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson G/F 6-7 Chester High, PA (Chester, PA) Arizona
Dakari Johnson C 6-10 Montverde Academy, FL (New York, NY) Kentucky
Kennedy Meeks C 6-9 West Charlotte, NC (Charlotte, NC) North Carolina
Wayne Selden, Jr. G 6-5 Tilton School, NH (Boston, MA) Kansas
Noah Vonleh F 6-8 New Hampton, NH (Haverhill, MA) Indiana
Chris Walker C/F 6-9 Holmes County, FL (Bonifay, FL) Florida
Andrew Wiggins F 6-8 Huntington Prep, WV (Thornhill, Ontario) Undecided
Head Coach: Freddy Johnson, Greensboro Day School, NC (Greensboro, NC)
Asst. Coach: Steve Shelton, Greensboro Day School, NC (Greensboro, NC)
Asst. Coach: Jeff Smith, Greensboro Day School, NC (Greensboro, NC)
WEST TEAM
Name Pos Hgt High School (Hometown) College
Jabari Bird G/F 6-6 Salesian High, CA (Richmond, CA) California
Aaron Gordon F 6-8 Archbishop Mitty, CA (San Jose, CA) Arizona
Isaac Hamilton G 6-5 St. John Bosco, CA (Los Angeles, CA) UTEP
Aaron Harrison G 6-5 William B. Tavis, TX (Richmond, TX) Kentucky
Andrew Harrison G 6-5 William B. Tavis, TX (Richmond, TX) Kentucky
Matt Jones G 6-4 DeSoto High, TX (DeSoto, TX) Duke
Marcus Lee F/C 6-9 Deer Valley High, CA (Antioch, CA) Kentucky
Jarrell Martin F 6-8 Madison Prep, LA (Baton Rouge, LA) LSU
Jabari Parker F 6-8 Simeon Career Academy, IL (Chicago, IL) Duke
Bobby Portis, Jr. F/C 6-9 Hall High, AR (Little Rock, AR) Arkansas
Nigel Williams-Goss G 6-3 Findlay Prep, NV (Happy Valley, OR) Washington
James Young F 6-7 Rochester High, MI (Rochester, MI) Kentucky
Head Coach: Mike Flaherty, Mt. Carmel High School, IL (Chicago, IL)
Asst. Coach: Jasper Williams, Bloom High School, IL (Olympia Fields, IL)
Asst. Coach: Brian Flaherty, Bremen High School, IL (Chicago, IL)
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of visitors. He’s an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
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