The McDonald's All-American Game is the
all-star basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
game played each year for American and Canadian boys' and girls'
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball season, in an East vs. West format. As part of the annual event, boys and girls compete in a
slam dunk
A slam dunk, also simply known as dunk, is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air, controls the ball above the horizontal plane of the rim, and scores by shoving the ball directly through the basket with one ...
contest and a
three-point shooting competition, and compete alongside All-American Game alumni in a timed team shootout. The last of these competitions replaced separate overall timed skills competitions for boys and girls. It is rare for girls to compete in the slam dunk contest. They have, however, won it three times—in 2004 by
Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los ...
, in 2019 by
Fran Belibi, and most recently in 2022 by Ashlyn Watkins. The boys' game has been contested annually since 1978, and the girls game has been played each year since it was added in 2002.
The McDonald's
All-America
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...
n designation began in 1977 with the selection of the inaugural team. That year, the All-Americans played in an all-star game against a group of high school stars from the Washington, D.C. area. The following year, the McDonald's game format of East vs. West was begun with a boys contest. In 2002, with the addition of a girls contest, the current girl-game / boy-game doubleheader format began.
The McDonald's All-American Team is the best-known of the American high-school basketball All-American teams. Designation as a McDonald's All-American instantly brands a player as one of the top high-school players in the United States or Canada. Selected athletes often go on to compete in
college basketball
In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...
. All but three of the teams to win the NCAA men's championship since 1978 has had at least one McDonald's All-American on its roster. The exceptions are the
2002 Maryland Terrapins, the
2014 Connecticut Huskies, and the
2021 Baylor Bears.
The teams are sponsored by the fast-food chain
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food
Fast food is a type of mass-produced food designed for commercial resale, with a strong priority placed on speed of service. It is a commercial term, limited to food sold ...
. Proceeds from the annual games go to local
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
RMHC has a global network of ...
(RMHC) and their Ronald McDonald House programs.
Greatest Boys McDonald's All-Americans
On January 31, 2012, McDonald's All-American Games unveiled its list of 35 of the Greatest McDonald's All-Americans, released in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the McDonald's All-American High School Boys Basketball Game. In 2017, five players were added to the list in celebration of the 40th Anniversary. Another five players were added in 2022 to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the game.
The Greatest Boys McDonald's All-Americans list includes some of the top names in men's basketball history, and features past and present Olympics, NBA and NCAA stars. The players were selected by members of the McDonald's All-American Games Selection Committee. In determining the list, all past McDonald's All-Americans were considered based on their high school careers and performances in the McDonald's All-American Games, success at the collegiate and professional level, and post-career accomplishments. The full list of players includes:
Annual game results
An
MVP/MOP award is presented each year to the most outstanding boy and girl players. The award is officially called the
John R. Wooden
John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball coach and player. Nicknamed the Wizard of Westwood, he won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period as he ...
Most Valuable Player Award.
Boys
Denotes All-Star Games in which joint winners were named
Girls
;Notes
Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year
Prior to each game since 1997 (Boys)/2002 (Girls), a national player of the year has been chosen from the field of McDonald's All-Americans based on activity in the community, classroom and on the court. The award is named in honor of high school coach
Morgan Wootten, one of the founders of the McDonald's game.
Past winners
;Boys
* 1997:
Shane Battier
* 1998:
Ronald Curry
Ronald Antonio Curry (born May 28, 1979) is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for t ...
* 1999:
Jonathan Bender
* 2000:
Chris Duhon
* 2001:
Aaron Miles
Aaron Wade Miles (born December 15, 1976) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 to 2011 for the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chi ...
* 2002:
Torin Francis
* 2003:
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest pl ...
* 2004:
Dwight Howard
Dwight David Howard II (born December 8, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League. He is an NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defensive Tea ...
* 2005:
Josh McRoberts
Joshua Scott McRoberts (born February 28, 1987) is an American former professional basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the ...
* 2006:
Greg Oden
Gregory Wayne Oden Jr. (born January 22, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player. Oden, a 7'0" (2.13m) center, played college basketball at Ohio State University for one season, during which the team was the Big Ten Champion ...
* 2007:
Kevin Love
Kevin Wesley Love (born September 7, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a five-time All-Star, a two-time member of the All-NBA Second Team and ...
* 2008:
Greg Monroe
Gregory Keith Monroe Jr. (born June 4, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 2010 NBA draft with the seventh overall pic ...
* 2009:
Derrick Favors
Derrick Bernard Favors (born July 15, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. Favors played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for one season before being selected by the New Jersey N ...
* 2010:
Harrison Barnes
Harrison Bryce Jordan Barnes (born May 30, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being ...
* 2011:
Austin Rivers
Austin James Rivers (born August 1, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Rivers led Winter Park High School to back-to-back Florida 6A state championship ...
* 2012:
Shabazz Muhammad
Shabazz Nagee Muhammad (born November 13, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Beirut Club of the Lebanese Basketball League (LBL). He played one season of college basketball for the UCLA Bruins before being selected with the 14 ...
* 2013:
Jabari Parker
Jabari Ali Parker (born March 15, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the second overall pick in the ...
* 2014:
Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Obika Okafor (pronounced ; born December 15, 1995) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Capitanes de Ciudad de México of the NBA G League. He played his freshman season of college basketball for the 2014–15 ...
* 2015:
Ben Simmons
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, after which he was ...
* 2016:
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Anderson Ball (born October 27, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, he played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins, earn ...
* 2017:
Wendell Carter Jr.
Wendell Andre Carter Jr. (born April 16, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
High school career
Carter at ...
* 2018:
RJ Barrett
Rowan Alexander "RJ" Barrett Jr. (born June 14, 2000) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected third overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the New York Knicks ...
* 2019:
James Wiseman
James Monteinez Wiseman (born March 31, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently in the NBA G League for the Santa Cruz Warriors. He played c ...
* 2020:
Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley (born June 18, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was selected third overall by the Cleve ...
* 2021:
Chet Holmgren
Chet Thomas Holmgren (born May 1, 2002; pronounced ) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Drafted 2nd overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he played college basketbal ...
* 2022:
Dereck Lively II
Dereck Jerome Lively II (born February 12, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. He was a consensus five-s ...
;Girls
* 2002:
Nicole Wolff
Nicole may refer to:
People
* Nicole (name)
* Nicole (American singer) (born 1958), a contestant in season 3 of the American ''The X Factor''
* Nicole (Chilean singer) (born 1977)
* Nicole (German singer) (born 1964), winner of the 1982 Eurovi ...
* 2003:
Ivory Latta
Ivory Latta (born September 25, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. She was drafted 11th overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2007 WNBA Draft. A 5'6" (1.68 m) guard noted for her three-point shooting ...
* 2004:
Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los ...
* 2005:
Abby Waner
Abigail Nellie Waner (born October 31, 1986) is an American basketball player who, after a collegiate career at Duke, was drafted by the New York Liberty in the 2009 WNBA Draft, and was waived on May 29, 2009. In 2008, she became a college basket ...
* 2006:
Tina Charles
* 2007:
Maya Moore
Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx, who is currently on sabbatical. Naming her their inaugural Performer of the Year in 2017, ''Sports Illustrated'' called Moore the greatest ...
* 2008:
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Delle Donne played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens from 200 ...
* 2009:
Kelsey Bone
Kelsey Renée Bone (born December 31, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.
College statistics
Source
USA Basketball
Bone was selected to play in the USA Women's Youth Development Festival. Elig ...
* 2010:
Chiney Ogwumike
Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike (born March 21, 1992) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA ...
* 2011:
Elizabeth Williams
* 2012:
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Mackenzie Stewart (born Baldwin; born August 27, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
In high school, Stewart was the National Gatorade Player ...
* 2013:
Taya Reimer
* 2014:
Ariel Atkins
Ariel Atkins (born July 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). After a four-year college career with the Texas Longhorns, Atkins was drafted 7th ove ...
* 2015:
Katie Lou Samuelson
Katie Lou Samuelson (born June 13, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the UConn Huskies.
High school career
Samu ...
* 2016:
Crystal Dangerfield
Crystal Simone Dangerfield (born May 11, 1998) is an American basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). After a high school career that made her the nation's top-ranked point guard, she played c ...
* 2017:
Evina Westbrook
* 2018:
Christyn Williams
Christyn Williams (born May 20, 2000) is an American women's basketball player. She was drafted by the Washington Mystics. She played college basketball at the University of Connecticut (UConn). She played in high school for Central Arkansas Chri ...
* 2019:
Haley Jones
Haley Jones (born May 23, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played her American collegiate basketball for the Stanford Cardinal of the Pac-12 ...
* 2020:
Paige Bueckers
Paige Madison Bueckers ( ; born October 20, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies of the Big East Conference.
At Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was ranked as ...
* 2021:
Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd (born November 11, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the UConn Huskies of the Big East Conference.
Fudd attended St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. and became the first sophomore to win Gatorade Player o ...
* 2022:
Kiki Rice
Sprite/Powerade Jam Fest Award Winners
The slam dunk contest was first held as an unofficial event in 1985, and became an official part of the festivities in 1987.
The three-point contest was first held for boys in 1989, with a girls' competition added alongside the inaugural girls' game in 2002.
The skills contest was added for both boys and girls in 2002, with separate events held for both sexes through 2015.
In 2016, the skills contest was discontinued and replaced with a "Legends & Stars Shootout", involving teams consisting of one boy, one girl, and one All-American Game alumnus of either sex. Within each individual entry of Legends & Stars Shootout winners, the teams are listed in the aforementioned order. The Shootout is a timed competition in which each team must make a layup, free throw, three-pointer, and halfcourt shot in that order.
:''Note: The only female winners of the slam dunk contest are Candace Parker, Fran Belibi, and Ashlyn Watkins who respectively won in 2004, 2019, and 2022.''
References
External links
*
McDonald's Boys All American Teamsat Basketball-Reference.com
{{College basketball on television
High school basketball games in the United States
Game
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...
Recurring sporting events established in 1977
1977 establishments in the United States