McDonald's(R) All American Games 2009 Team Rosters Revealed

/PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's and the All American Basketball Games selection committee unveiled the 24 members of the 32nd Boys Game and 24 members of the eighth annual Girls Game on the ESPNU Selection Show today. The Games will be played on April 1 at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Fla.

Proceeds from the 2009 McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) (RMHC(R)) of South Florida. Millions of dollars have been raised since the first Game was played in 1978.

"The McDonald's All American Games represent the most prestigious showcase of high school basketball in the nation," said Alonzo Mourning, captain of the McDonald's All American Advisory Council. "The young athletes selected to the McDonald's All American Teams will not only go on to become the next biggest basketball stars, but will also aid in raising money for an important cause and learn the importance of succeeding off the court, by giving back."

The 2009 McDonald's All American Boys Team features the top high school basketball talent, including Xavier Henry (Putnum City High School - Oklahoma City, Okla.), ranked the number one high school basketball player in the nation by several sources. Also taking the floor will be Derrick Favors (South Atlanta High School - Atlanta, Ga.), John Henson (Sickles High School - Tampa, Fla.), DeMarcus Cousins (LeFlore High School - Mobile, Ala.) and Renardo Sidney (Fairfax High School - Los Angeles, Calif.). The Boys Game will tip-off at 8:00 p.m. ET April 1, and will broadcast live on ESPN.

The 2009 McDonald's All American Girls Team also boasts a talent-rich roster including Brittney Griner (Nimitz High School - Houston, Texas), who holds the National High School record for blocks in a game and is widely known for her incredible dunking skills. Also suiting-up for the girls will be Kelsey Bone (John Foster Dulles High School - Sugar Land, Texas), Skylar Diggins (South Bend Washington High School - South Bend, Ind.), Markel Walker (Pittsburgh Schenley High School - Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Cokie Reed (Waco Midway High School - Waco, Texas). The Girls Game begins at 5:30 p.m. ET April 1, and will broadcast live on ESPNU.

Every athlete who participates in the McDonald's All American Games will visit the host city's local RMHC Chapter to experience first-hand how the Games impact the local community. For a complete list of players and more information on the McDonald's All American Games and RMHC, please visit: www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com or www.mcdepk.com/2008allamericangame/. You can also visit our new blog at insidethegames.net to obtain news and analysis of the Games and other basketball topics of interest on a regular basis.

This year, 48 players were selected from 2,500 nominees by a committee of basketball experts. They were chosen not only for their on-court skills, but for their performances off the court as well. Coach Morgan Wootten, who had more than 1,200 wins as head basketball coach at DeMatha High, is chairman of the selection committee. Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who has been involved in the McDonald's All American Games since its inception, serves as chairman of the Games and as an advisor to the selection committee.

Since 1977, more than 850 players have competed in the McDonald's All American Games, forming an elite list that reads like a "Who's Who" in basketball history. McDonald's All American athletes include NBA greats Alonzo Mourning (retired), Magic Johnson (retired), Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), as well as WNBA star Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and women's NCAA stars Tina Charles (Connecticut) and Maya Moore (Connecticut).

Tickets to the Games and POWERade(R) Jam Fest are available through Ticketmaster online by clicking here (Games) and here (Jam Fest), and by phone, (866) 909-GAME. POWERade Jam Fest will be held at the BankUnited Center on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus on March 30, 2009. The qualifying competition will begin at 7 p.m. ET and the finals will air live for the first time ever at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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