Chicago will host 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game
Words. Austin Burton
Ray McCallum in the 2010 McD's Game
Chicago will always hold a special place in basketball lore. Playground legends from Billy “The Kid” Harris to Will “The Thrill” Bynum, local heroes from Ben Wilson to Kevin Garnett, homegrown pros from Isiah Thomas to Derrick Rose, and adopted sons from Michael Jordan to Scottie Pippen have all played a role in making the Windy City one of the world’s basketball hotbeds and a place where legacies are made.
Next spring, the city will host a new crop of rising stars, as the McDonald’s High School All-American Game returns to Chicago for the first time since 1982.
The game will take place March 30, 2011, at the United Center. The girls game will be aired live on ESPNU, while the boys will tip-off on ESPN.
Back in ’82, future NBA dunk champion Kenny “Sky” Walker took MVP in a McDonald’s game that included Brad Daugherty, Johnny Dawkins, Dell Curry, Wayman Tisdale and Benoit Benjamin. The Chi has also produced McDonald’s alumni such as Isiah, Mark Aguirre, Doc Rivers, Nick Anderson, Juwan Howard, Antoine Walker, Garnett, Quentin Richardson, Candace Parker, Sherron Collins and D-Rose.
At least a couple of current Chicago products will be serious candidates for the 2011 game. Anthony Davis (PF, Perspectives Charter School) and Wayne Blackshear (SG, Morgan Park) are both on the HSH national Top 50 player ranking, which disregards class.
