Supersized: How McDonald’s All-Americans translate to the next levels
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Saturday, February 09, 2013
2/09/13 at 7:06 AM
Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. Kevin Durant.
Winfred Walton. DeAngelo Collins. Ndubi Ebi. Taylor King.
They have one thing in common: As high school seniors, each was among 24 players in the country selected as McDonald's All-Americans.
The status is more than the highest distinction given to high school players. It's where stars are born.
But it's also the beginning of high expectations, as seen with Oklahoma State freshman Marcus Smart and sophomore Le'Bryan Nash.
Many live up to the hype, evolving into household names, while others vanish into obscurity.
Of the out-of-college All-Americans from the past decade, two out of three have gone on to start at least one NBA game, but 41.3 percent aren't currently on NBA rosters.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
McDonald's All-Americans with in-state ties in the past 10 years
J.R. Giddens
Oklahoma City John Marshall
After troubled times at Kansas and New Mexico and a stint with the Boston Celtics, Giddens is on an Italian team in his third season overseas.
Drew Lavender
OU
The ex-Sooner point guard concluded his career at Xavier and is playing in Germany.
Byron Eaton
Oklahoma State
Since appearing in two games with the Tulsa 66ers, Eaton has been playing in Japan.
Blake Griffin
Oklahoma Christian School and OU
The 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year, he is averaging 18.5 points per game for the L.A. Clippers.
James Anderson
OSU
A former first-round draft pick, he was signed by Houston last month after being cut by San Antonio. He is contributing 3.5 points in eight minutes a game.
Willie Warren
OU
After two seasons with the Sooners, Warren wound up in the D-League but was waived in 2011. He is playing in Israel.
Tommy Mason-Griffin
OU
A surprising departure after one year of college was unsuccessful. He didn't make it in the D-League and is on a German team.
Xavier Henry
Putnam City
After a season at Kansas, Henry headed for the NBA. This season, he's averaging 3.9 points for New Orleans.
Tiny Gallon
OU
Amid scandal, Gallon left Norman in 2010 and had been playing for D-League Bakersfield before being waived last month.
Where will they end up?
Le'Bryan Nash, OSU
The sophomore shooting forward is averaging 13 points but has struggled with consistency in his two seasons in Stillwater. Despite that, he is projected 44th in this year's NBA draft by CBSSports.com.
Marcus Smart, OSU
A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard, the freshman is wowing scouts with statlines like 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and no turnovers Wednesday against Baylor. He is ranked No. 6 among draft prospects by ESPN.
Make or break?
How recent college teams fared with their McDonald's All-Americans:
Kentucky, 2012: Stocked with NBA talent that included six McDonald's All-Americans, the Wildcats won their eighth national title, defeating Kansas in the championship game. The Jayhawks had no All-Americans on their roster. Five of Kentucky's McDonald's All-Americans turned pro after the season.
Oklahoma, 2010: Gone was Blake Griffin, but the Sooners had three McDonald's All-Americans: Willie Warren, Tiny Gallon and Tommy-Mason Griffin. OU went 4-12 in Big 12 play and finished the year on a nine-game losing streak. The wins were later vacated because of NCAA violations.
North Carolina, 2010: The Tar Heels had high hopes of repeating as national champions, and with seven McDonald's All-Americans they were a top-10 preseason team. Instead, a 20-17 season, including 5-11 in the ACC, ended with a loss to Dayton in the NIT championship game.
North Carolina, 2009: With eight McDonald's All-Americans, led by consensus national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough, UNC fulfilled preseason expectations and won its fifth national title. The team finished with a 34-4 record.
By the numbers
5
In the past decade have won the John R. Wooden Award, given to college basketball's top player.
66.5
Percentage of those out of college from the last 10 years who have started an NBA game.
37 of 49
One-and-dones (since the NCAA rule took effect in 2006).
12
Are among the NBA's current top 15 scoring leaders (exclusions: No. 7 Russell Westbrook, No. 8 Dwyane Wade, No. 10 Stephen Curry)
7
Have been NBA MVP (a total of 16 times)
20
Have won NBA Rookie of the Year
How are they selected?
After the names of more than 1,500 high school seniors are submitted by members of the McDonald's All-American selection committee and others who follow high school sports in their areas, organizer Sports America verifies eligibility and academic standing.
The selection committee, composed of scouts, reporters and coaches, uses four rounds of voting to whittle the list.
In early February, 100 finalists are announced. Of those, the committee ranks the top 20, and players who don't receive any votes are eliminated.
On the fourth and final ballot, each committee member selects two point guards, two shooting guards, two small forwards, two power forwards and two centers. The top 20 vote-getters are placed on the roster and are reviewed and approved by chairman Morgan Wootten.
The 20 players, separated into East and West teams, are revealed in mid-February. The 2013 teams will be announced Thursday, and the McDonald's All-American Game will be played April 3 at Chicago's United Center.
Among the nominees are Oklahoma State signees Stevie Clark and Jeffrey Carroll and future Sooner Jordan Woodard.
How do their college teams do?
With the exception of Maryland in 2002, every NCAA national champion since 1979 has had at least one McDonald's All-American. A look at the past 10:
Kentucky, 2012: Six
UConn, 2011: Two
Duke, 2010: Six
North Carolina, 2009: Eight
Kansas, 2008: Three
Florida, 2007: One
Florida, 2006: One
North Carolina, 2005: Five
UConn, 2004: Two
Syracuse, 2003: One
Do they make it in the NBA?
McDonald's All-Americans on current NBA rosters by class
2011: Five (19 still in college)
2010: Nine (10 still in college)
2009: Six (13 still in college)
2008: 14 (two still in college)
2007: 15
2006: 16
2005: 11
2004: 15
2003: 10
Recent All-Americans who became NBA superstars
LeBron James: Miami Heat (2003)
Dwight Howard: Los Angeles Lakers (2004)
Kevin Durant: Oklahoma City Thunder (2006)
Derrick Rose: Chicago Bulls (2007)
Blake Griffin: Los Angeles Clippers (2007)
Recent All-Americans on the rise in the NBA
Brook Lopez: Brooklyn Nets (2006)
James Harden: Houston Rockets (2007)
Jrue Holiday: Philadelphia 76ers (2008)
Kyrie Irving: Cleveland Cavaliers (2010)
Anthony Davis: New Orleans Hornets (2011)
BIG 12 BASKETBALL: NO. 22 OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS
12:45 p.m. Saturday • Erwin Center, Austin, Texas • TV: KMYT-10/41 • Radio: KFAQ am1170
Original Print Headline: Supersized
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Marcus Smart, OSU. SUE OGROCKI/Associated Press
Le’Bryan Nash, OSU. KT KING/For the Tulsa World
OU McDonald’s All-Americans Willie Warren (left) and Tiny Gallon celebrate after a basket in 2010. ALONZO ADAMS/Associated Press file
The Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving was a McDonald’s All-American in 2010. TONY DEJAK/Associated Press
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