McDonald's All American(R) Games 2010 Team Rosters Announced

OAK BROOK, Ill., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The McDonald's® All American Basketball Games selection committee announced final rosters today for the 33rd annual Boys Game and ninth Girls Game on the ESPNU McDonald's All American Selection Show. The Games will be played on March 31 at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The full rosters are available on www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com.

"Year after year I am impressed with the extraordinary high school talent the McDonald's All American Games brings to the forefront of the basketball world," said Alonzo Mourning, captain of the McDonald's All American Advisory Council. "These young athletes will not only get the chance to become basketball stars of the next generation, but more importantly they will be provided the opportunity to bring attention and raise money for an important cause and learn essential life lessons off the court."

The 2010 McDonald's All American Boys Team features the nation's best high school basketball talent, including Harrison Barnes (Ames High School – Ames, Iowa), the top-ranked player in the ESPNU 100. Also taking the floor will be local star, Jared Sullinger (Northland High School – Columbus, Ohio), Brandon Knight (Pine Crest Academy – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Tristan Thompson (Findlay Prep – Henderson, Nev.) and Kyrie Irving (St. Patrick High School – Elizabeth, N.J.). The Boys Game will tip-off at 8:00 p.m. ET March 31, and will broadcast live on ESPN.

The 2010 McDonald's All American Girls Team also boasts an exceptional roster including Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair High School  – Cypress, Texas), the consensus number one prospect in the 2010 class. Also suiting-up for the Girls Team will be Kaneisha Horn (Ramsay High School – Birmingham, Ala.), Chelsea Gray (St. Mary's High School – Stockton, Calif.), Bria Hartley (North Babylon High School – North Babylon, N.Y.) and Natasha Howard (Toledo Waite High School – Toledo, Ohio). The Girls Game begins at 5:30 p.m. ET March 31, and will broadcast live on ESPNU.

Proceeds from the 2010 McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Central Ohio. Millions of dollars have been raised since the first Game was played in 1978.

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 more information on the McDonald's All American Games, RMHC or the McDonald's All American Advisory Council, please visit: www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com or http://mcdepk.com/2010allamericangames.

This year, 48 players were selected from 2,150 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. In addition, 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.  

Since 1977, more than 950 players have competed in the McDonald's All American Games, forming an elite list that includes some of the top names 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 stars Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and women's NCAA stars Glory Johnson (Tennessee) and Maya Moore (Connecticut).

Tickets to the Games and POWERADE® Jam Fest are available through Ticketmaster online and by phone, (866) 909-GAME. POWERADE Jam Fest will be held at the Value City Arena on March 29, 2010. The qualifying competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET and the finals will air live at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

About RMHC

Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most – right in their own communities. RMHC® makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. These programs and grants provide a bridge to accessible health care and allow families more time together, which helps in the healing process. For more information, visit http://rmhc.org.

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome food made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local business men and women. Customers can now log online for free at any of the 11,000 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter (@McDonalds) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds) for updates on our business, promotions and products.

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