OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - The McDonald's All American Games unveiled the official rosters for the 38th annual boys game and 14th annual girls game during today's McDonald's All American Games Selection Show on ESPNU. The nation's top high school basketball all-star event will be played at Chicago's United Center on April 1 -- the fifth consecutive year the Windy City will host the Games. Full team rosters are available now at www.mcdaag.com.
The 2015 McDonald's All American boys team features the consensus number one player in the country, Ben Simmons (Montverde Academy - Montverde, Florida). Simmons will play for the East Team and will be joined by fellow top players Jaylen Brown (Wheeler High School - Marietta, Georgia), Isaiah Briscoe (Roselle Catholic High School - Roselle, New Jersey) and a pair of post players from Wisconsin, Diamond Stone (Dominican High School - Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin) and Henry Ellenson (Rice Lake High School - Rice Lake, Wisconsin).
The West Team will be led by top-ranked guard Malik Newman (Callaway High School - Jackson, Mississippi), Ivan Rabb (Bishop O'Dowd High School - Oakland, California) and local Chicago standout Jalen Brunson (Adlai E. Stevenson High School - Lincolnshire, Illinois) who will play in front of a hometown crowd at the United Center. Of the 24 boys selected to the team, nine have yet to make their college decisions. Of those who have decided, Louisiana State University and Duke University have the most commitments with two each. The boys game begins at 8 p.m. CT on April 1 and will be televised live on ESPN.
The girls team includes top-ranked Katie Lou Samuelson (Mater Dei High School - Santa Ana, California). Samuelson will join fellow University of Connecticut signee Napheesa Collier (Incarnate Word School - St. Louis, Missouri) along with four players from Texas on the West Team. The four Texas players are Jordan Hosey (Manvel High School - Manvel, Texas), Kyra Lambert (Samuel Clemens High School - Schertz, Texas), Lashann Higgs (Cedar Ridge High School - Round Rock, Texas) and Ashley Hearn (Sachse High School - Sachse, Texas).
The East Team features University of Louisville commits Asia Durr (St. Pius X Catholic High School - Atlanta, Georgia) and Taja Cole (Lloyd C. Bird High School - Chesterfield, Virginia) along with University of Notre Dame bound Marina Mabrey (Manasquan High School - Manasquan, New Jersey), sister of 2012 McDonald's All American Michaela Mabrey. Of the 24 Girls Team participants, University of Notre Dame and University of Connecticut have the most McDonald's All American players suiting up next fall with three commits each. The girls game begins at 5:30 p.m. CT on April 1 and will be televised live on ESPNU.
"The McDonald's All American Games is a gathering of the very best high school basketball talent and offers a preview of the next basketball superstars," said Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald's All American Games. "Fans in Chicago and those watching across the country on TV will get the first look at the newest young stars. We can't wait to see them take the court on April 1."
In addition to the 48 players selected, four prep coaches from Maryland, Illinois, Arkansas and Idaho were named coaches for the 2015 Games. John Hutchcraft of Guy-Perkins High School in Guy, Arkansas, will lead the girls East Team, while Emery Roy of Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho, will coach the girls West Team. Bruce Kelley of Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, will lead the boys East Team, and local Chicago coach Robert Smith of Simeon Career Academy will serve as head coach of the boys West Team.
This year's teams were selected from more than 800 nominees by the McDonald's All American Games selection committee, led by Morgan Wootten, committee chairman and legendary Hall-of-Fame basketball coach.
Since 1978, more than 1,200 players have competed in the McDonald's All American Games, forming an elite group of some of the top names in basketball history, including Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart. Last year's game included players who are having an instant impact as college freshman including Jahlil Okafor, Melo Trimble, James Blackmon, Jr., D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Tickets to the 2015 McDonald's All American Games are available now through Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 1-866-909-GAME. Tickets start at $10 and include free parking. Fans who purchase a ticket on Ticketmaster.com prior to Feb. 17 will automatically be entered for a chance to win the first-ever McDonald's All American Games Behind the Scenes Fan Experience. The sweepstakes will give 10 lucky fans and a guest a behind-the-scenes look at the 2015 team in action in Chicago. The exclusive experience includes access to a closed practice and scrimmage, media day, Games merchandise and a program book. More information and official rules are available at http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/aag/en/rules.html.
The POWERADE® Jam Fest -- featuring many of the McDonald's All American Games players in a skills competition, three-point shootout and dunk contest -- will be held at the Gerald Ratner Athletic Center on the campus of the University of Chicago on March 30. The competitions will air live at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
Net proceeds from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Since its inception, the McDonald's All American Games have raised more than $11 million for the Charity.
For more information about the McDonald's All American Games, POWERADE Jam Fest or game week activities in Chicago, please visit www.mcdaag.com and follow us @McDAAG.
Proud sponsors of the 2015 McDonald's All American Games include POWERADE®, Coca Cola®, adidas®, American Family Insurance, THE ROCK®, Fathead®, Lids® and Athletico Physical Therapy.
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About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of 300 Chapters in more than 62 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Family Room and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs, enable family-centered care, provide a bridge to quality health care, are a vital part of the health care continuum and give children and families the time they need to heal and cope better together.
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