McDonald’s announced four male and four female finalists today for the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award. The annual award, named after DeMatha High School coaching legend Morgan Wootten, recognizes the nation’s top boys and girls high school senior student-athletes. In addition to their skills on the court, the winners must demonstrate outstanding character and exhibit leadership, both in the classroom and in the community. Winners will be announced March 15, 2011.
Each male finalist is rated in the top five of the ESPNU 100 list. In alphabetical order: Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter School – Chicago, Ill.) the guy who had a quadruple double in a high school game, Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick High School – Elizabeth, N.J.) Davis’ future teammate next year at Kentucky, James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian – Norfolk, Va.) and Austin Rivers (Winter Park High School – Winter Park, Fla.).
The female finalists also rank among the tops in girls basketball on the ESPNU 100 list. In alphabetical order: Cierra Burdick (Butler High School – Mathews, N.C.), Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook High School – Bolingbrook, Ill.), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei High School – Santa Ana, Calif.) and Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne High School – Virginia Beach, Va.).
“As leaders in the community, in academics, as well as on the basketball court, these eight finalists embody what it means to be a McDonald’s All American,” said Morgan Wootten, McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee Chairman.
Tickets to the McDonald’s All American Games are available via Ticketmaster and charge-by-phone at 1-866-909-GAME with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.
The 2011 McDonald’s All American Basketball Games will be played on March 30 at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. The Girls Game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will broadcast live on ESPNU. The Boys Game will tip-off at 10:00 p.m. ET, and will broadcast live on ESPN.
Written by Paul M. Banks, President and CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, the Tribune’s blog network, Walter Football, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports
He does a weekly radio segment on Chicagoland Sports Radio.com and Cleveland.com
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