Nation's Best High School Basketball Players Featured in All American Game

Jet, April 23, 2001

The future players of the NBA were seen when 24 of the top high school seniors from around the country exhibited their talent in the 2001 McDonald's All American high school basketball game at Duke University in Durham, NC.

Members of the team, most of whom have all committed to Division 1 schools or declared themselves eligible for the NBA draft, were chosen from more than 1,600 nominees by a seven-member selection committee and an advisory panel of scouts and media members.

Members of the East squad were Carlos Hurt, Louisville, KY; Chris Thomas, Indianapolis, IN; Maurice Williams, Jackson, MS; Rashaad Carruth, Mouth of Wilson, VA; Dajuan Wagner, Camden, NJ; Julius Hodge, Bronx, NY; Anthony Richardson, Raleigh, NC; James White, Chatham, VA; Kwame Brown, Brunswick, GA; Ousmane Cisse, Montgomery, AL; David Harrison, Brentwood, TN; and DeSagana Diop, Mouth of Wilson, VA.

The West team members were Terrance Ford, Houston, TX; Aaron Miles, Portland, OR; Cedric Bozeman, Santa Ana, CA; Daniel Ewing, Houston, TX; Kelvin Torbert, Flint, MI; Josh Childress, Lakewood, CA; Jawad Williams, Lakewood, OH; David Lee, St. Louis, MO; Rick Rickert, Duluth, MN; Wayne Simien, Leavenworth, KS; Tyson Chandler, Compton, CA; and Eddy Curry, South Holland, IL.

Three players--Cisse, Diop and Simien--were hurt and didn't play, and Chandler did not make the trip.

This year marked the 24th anniversary of the game and it featured the usual suspects--slam-dunks and no-look and behind-the-back passes. However, the game proved to be a source of competition as the West came back from a 15-point deficit to beat the East 131-125.

The 6-foot-11, 290-pound Curry, who has committed to DePaul but is still considering a jump to the NBA, gave the West its first lead at 96-94 on a dunk with 1:06 left in the third. Curry was named the game's MVP and finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

A Memphis recruit, Wagner led the East with 25 points. Wagner became the first son of a former McDonald's All American to play in the game. His father, former NBA player Milt Wagner played in the 1981 game with Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.

Miles of Jefferson High School was honored with the All American Player of the Year award.

Jerry Faulkner head coach of Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, NC, coached the East squad, and Robert Hughes, the most-winning coach among any public high school, coached the West. Hughes of Dunbar High School in Fort Worth, TX, has won 1,213 games in his 27-year career.

Proceeds from this year's game will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina.