The 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game was an
All-star
An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.
Sports
"All-star" as a sport ...
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
game that was played on April 1, 2015, at the
United Center
The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...
in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, home of the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
. It was the 38th annual
McDonald's All-American Game
The McDonald's All-American Game is an American all-star basketball game played each year for boys' and girls' high school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the hi ...
for high school boys. The game's rosters features the best and most highly recruited
blue chip boys
high school basketball
High school basketball, also known as prep basketball, is the sport of basketball as played by High school (North America), high school teams in the United States and Canada.
Top high school athletes often go on to play college basketball after ...
players graduating in 2015. Chicago, which became the first city to host the game in back-to-back years in 2012, continues to host the game annually for the fifth consecutive time.
[ When the rosters for the game were announced on January 28, 15 of the 24 players had committed to Division I basketball programs; ]Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...
and LSU
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...
led the field with two commits each.
On March 10, 2015, Ben Simmons
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, a ...
was named the Morgan Wootten Award winner, regarded as the McDonald's All-American national player of the year award. In the game, the East team—led by MVP Cheick Diallo's 18 points
A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to:
Mathematics
* Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
and 10 rebounds
'Rebound' is a term used in sports to describe the ball (or puck or other object of play) becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful. Rebounds are generally ...
—defeated the West team by a 111–91 margin. In the associated Jam Fest, Dwayne Bacon, Luke Kennard and Jalen Brunson won the slam dunk contest
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest (officially known as the AT&T Slam Dunk) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
The contest was conceived of and started by the American Basketball Associat ...
, three-point shooting contest and skills competition, respectively.
Rosters
At the time of the roster announcement the 24 players included 22 of the top 25 players according to the 2015 ESPN 100.[ The two highest rated players (]Ben Simmons
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, a ...
and Jaylen Brown) were both named to the East team.[ The West team roster was highlighted by Malik Newman.] Based on ratings at ESPN.com, the highest rated eligible player not invited was number 18 ranked Texas A&M
Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...
signee Tyler Davis.[ However, according to 247Sports.com's composite ranking, the highest rated non-invitee was 15th-ranked ]Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
signee Ray Smith. Nine uncommitted players at the time of the roster announcement was regarded as a high total and was higher than the total of two the year before.[ Kentucky signee Skal Labissière (number 3 at ESPN and number 5 at 247Sports.com) was not eligible due to his athletic ineligibility after transferring.][ As of gametime, 8 players remained undecided on their college affiliations.] 5 of the players were scheduled to begin play in the Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals the following day.
On March 10, 2015, Simmons was named the Morgan Wootten Award winner, given annually to the best male McDonald's All-American player who exemplifies outstanding character, exhibits leadership and embodies the values of being a student-athlete in the classroom and in the community. In doing so, he joined Austin Rivers (2011) as the only Florida high schoolers to win the award. In the week prior to the game Diamond Stone committed to Maryland. Also, Jaylen Brown made news that week for a stop sign violation, but his participation in the game was not in jeopardy. Henry Ellenson endured a broken hand on March 20 in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is the regulatory body for all high school sports in Wisconsin. Its history dates to 1895, making it the earliest continually existing high school athletic organization in the country. ...
Division 2 semifinals, and he did not play in the McDonald's All-American game.
The POWERADE Jam Fest was held at the Gerald Ratner Center of the University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
on March 30. The slam dunk contest included Kristine Anigwe, who was attempting to become the first girl to win the dunk contest since Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986), nicknamed "Ace", is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA dr ...
won the 2004 contest. Dwayne Bacon won the dunk contest against finalist Stephen Zimmerman with dunks that included a dunk over Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose (born January 30, 1973) is an American sports analyst and former professional basketball player. In college, he was a member of the University of Michigan Michigan Wolverines, Wolverines' "Fab Five (University of Michigan), Fa ...
who stood in front of the basket, while Anigwe failed to complete a dunk. Luke Kennard won the boys three-point shooting contest over finalists Jalen Brunson and Antonio Blakeney. Brunson won the boys Skills Competition over finalists Carlton Bragg Jr. and Isaiah Briscoe.
Following the game, Thomas Bryant committed to Indiana
Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...
on April 4. On April 10, Caleb Swanigan committed to Michigan State
Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the ...
(joining Davis). Ivan Rabb committed to California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
on April 13. Zimmerman committed to UNLV
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public land-grant research university in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The campus is about east of the Las Vegas Strip. It was formerly part of the University of Nevada from 1957 to 1969. ...
on April 16. Newman committed to Mississippi State
Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States. It is classified among "R ...
on April 24. North Carolina native, Brandon Ingram
Brandon Xavier Ingram (born September 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2016 N ...
, who had risen to #3 overall in the ESPN 100 prior to his announcement, selected Duke (joining Kennard and Jeter) on April 27. The following day, Diallo committed to Kansas (joining Bragg). Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Marselles Brown (born October 24, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the California Golden Bears and wa ...
committed to California (joining Rabb) on May 1. On May 7, Swaningan decommitted from Michigan State. Then on May 19, he committed to Purdue
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donat ...
.
East Roster
:^player was uncommitted when the team was announced
West Roster
*
:^player was uncommitted when the team was announced
Bruce Kelley of the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac () is an Unincorporated area#United States, unincorporated community and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 47,018. It is named a ...
coached the East team, while Robert Smith of Chicago's Simeon Career Academy
Neal F. Simeon Career Academy (formerly known as Westcott Vocational High School, Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School, Neal F. Simeon Career Technical Academy), locally known simply as Simeon, is a public four-year vocational school, vocational ...
coached the West team.[
]
Results
The East defeated the West by a 111–91 score. Cheick Diallo earned MVP of the game after posting 18 points and 10 rebounds, for the East team.[ Five East team players (Diallo, Antonio Blakeney, Diamond Stone, Dwayne Bacon, and Isaiah Briscoe) and four West team players (Allonzo Trier, ]Brandon Ingram
Brandon Xavier Ingram (born September 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2016 N ...
, PJ Dozier, and Ivan Rabb) reached double figures in scoring.
Notes
External links
McDonald's All-American on the web
roster
on ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald's
2014–15 in American basketball
2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
2015 in Chicago
2015 in sports in Illinois
Basketball competitions in Illinois
April 2015 sports events in the United States