The McDonald’s All-American game is less than a week away and today the organization named Derrick Favors (South Atlanta, Ga.) and Kelsey Bone (Dulles, Sugar Land, Texas) as their Morgan Wooten National Players of the Years.
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Favors, a 6-foot-9 senior forward, averaged 27.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game for the Hornets, who won the Class AAA state title. The Georgia Tech-bound Favors had 38 points in the title game, an 81-62 triumph over Westover.
Derrick Favors is the McDonald's national Player of the Year.
File photo by Jim Redman
“It’s a big honor and privilege,” Favors said about winning the award. “I’m really looking forward to the Games and plan to just go out there, play hard and try to live up to the hype.”
Bone, a 6-5 senior who led Dulles to a 36-3 record, averaged 19.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
She hasn’t picked her college yet, but it’s between Texas A&M, South Carolina, Texas or Illinois.
She won a gold member last summer playing for the under-18 USA Basketball Team.
“It’s an honor,” Bone said of her selection. “It means a lot to be named to the McDonald’s All-American Team and even more to be (the player of the year).”
Dulles senior post Kelsey Bone earns McDonald's top honor.
File photo by Jim Redman
Both will start in Wednesday’s games, which are held at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Fla.
The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. (EST) and will be aired live on ESPNU, while the boys game begins at 8 and air live on ESPN.
The Wooten Award is given to a McDonald’s All American who exemplifies outstanding character and exhibits great leadership and community service.
Previous male winners include: Greg Oden (2006), Dwight Howard (2004), LeBron James (2003), Jason Williams (1999) and Shane Battier (1997), the first recipient.
Previous female winners include Tina Charles (2006), Abby Waner (2005), Candace Parker (2004) and Ivory Latta (2003).
Mitch Stephens will be in Miami for all the festivities. Please check back for full coverage, including features, notebooks and topical stories.
