By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
The biggest headliners selected to the 2009 McDonald’s All-American boys team might just be the uncommitted.
DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-11 post from LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), 6-6 forward Lance Stephenson (Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y.) and 6-10 center Renardo Sidney (Fairfax, Los Angeles) were the only three from the list of 24 announced today who have not either signed or committed to college.
All three are projected NBA lottery picks in 2010 or 2011 according to MaxPreps Basketball editor Dave Krider.
Cousins and Stephenson are two among the 12-member East team, co-coached by Darryl Burrows and Mark Lieberman, both from Florida.
Sidney heads up the west squad, coached by Pat McClatchey of Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore, one of several geographical oddities between the boys and girls teams.
The 32nd annual game is slated for April 1 in Miami. See complete team below or go to McDonald’s website.
Kenny Boynton Jr. (American Heritage, signed to Florida) and Derrick Favors (South Atlanta, Georgia Tech) and West pick Xavier Henry (Putnam City, Memphis) have also been identified as players slated to exit college after one or two years to enter the NBA.
If the selections are any indication, North Carolina has a loaded 2009 class as four All-Americans are slated to become Tar Heels next season: 6-10 forwards David and Travis Wear (Mater Dei, Calif.) and John Henson (Sickles, Fla.) and 6-3 guard Dexter Strickland (St. Patrick, N.J.).
The state of Washington has two participants who will be playing against one another.
Peyton Siva, a dynamic 6-foot guard from Franklin (Seattle), was selected to play for the East and Abdul Gaddy Jr., a 6-3 guard from Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma), will play for the West.
Those who make to the McDonald’s All-American boys team have a 66 percent chance to make it to the NBA.
At least those were the percentages heading into last year’s game. Over the previous 30 years, 431 of 649 had gone on to play at basketball’s highest level. Keep in mind that included selections from the previous four years, many of whom were still playing in college.
Among the greatest to be selected in the McDonald’s All-American game are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O’Neal, Ralph Sampson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Jason Kidd.
To see MaxPreps’ coverage from last year’s games and events, click here.
2009 BOYS MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN TEAM – EAST
G Kenny Boynton Jr., 6-3, 190, American Heritage (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Florida
G Dominic Cheek, 6-6, 185, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), Villanova
C DeMarcus Cousins, 6-11, 265, Leflore Magnet (Mobile, Ala.), undecided
F Derrick Favors, 6-9, 235, South Atlanta (Ga.), Georgia Tech
F Milton Jennings, 6-9, 215, Pinewood Prep (Cottageville, S.C.), Clemson
F Ryan Kelly, 6-10, 217, Ravenscroft School (Raleigh, N.C.), Duke
C Alex Oriakhi, 6-9, 240, Tilton School (N.H.), Connecticut
G Peyton Siva, 6-0, 175, Franklin (Seattle, Wash.), Louisville
F Lance Stephenson, 6-6, 220, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), undecided
G Dexter Strickland, 6-3, 180, St. Patrick (Rahway, N.J.), North Carolina
F Dante Taylor, 6-9, 230, National Christian Academy (White Plains, N.Y.), Pittsburgh
G Maalik Wayns, 6-1, 185, Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), Villanova
Co-coaches: Darryl Burrows (Dillard, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Mark Lieberman (Monsignor Edward Pace, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
2009 BOYS MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN TEAM – WEST
G Avery Bradley, 6-3, 180, Findley College Prep (Nev.), Texas
G Abdul Gaddy Jr., 6-3, 183, Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), Washington
C Keith Gallon, 6-9, 293, Oak Hill Academy (Va.), Oklahoma
G Xavier Henry, 6-6, 225, Putnam City (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Memphis
F John Henson, 6-10, 200, Sickles (Odessa, Fla.), North Carolina
F Wally Judge, 6-9, 230, Arlington Country Day (Landover, Md.), Kansas State
G Tommy Mason-Griffin, 5-11, 192, James Madison (Houston, Texas), Oklahoma
F Mason Plumlee, 6-11, 220, Christ School (N.C.), Duke
C Renardo Sidney, 6-10, 250, Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.), undecided
G Michael Snaer, 6-5, 200, Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Florida State
F David Wear, 6-10, 225, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), North Carolina
F Travis Wear, 6-10, 230, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), North Carolina
Coach: Pat Clatchey (Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore, Md.)
