Thirty-One Southern California Prep Stars Nominated For 2013 McDonald's All American® Games

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-one Southern California high school seniors are among the 814 basketball athletes that have been nominated to play in the 2013 McDonald's All American Games. The 13 male and 18 female all-stars hailing from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties were selected by high school coaches, principals and members of the McDonald's All American Games Selection Committee to compete for a coveted spot in this year's basketball Games. Net proceeds from the Games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), whose programs directly improve the health and well-being of children throughout the U.S. and abroad.

A complete list of 2013 McDonald's All American Games nominees is available at www.mcdaag.com. The final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls, selected to play in the 2013 Games will be announced during the McDonald's All American Games Selection Show on ESPNU on February 14 at 2:00 p.m. PT. Check your local listings for details.

"McDonald's is strongly committed to supporting the dreams of student athletes by creating opportunities that inspire them to reach their full potential," said Michael Mangione, Jr., McDonald's owner/operator and president of the McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC). "We congratulate all our Southern California nominees, and wish them luck in their pursuit to make the final team."    

The 36th Annual Boys Game will tip-off on Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. PT from Chicago's United Center and will broadcast live on ESPN. The 12th Annual Girls Game will precede the Boys Game, beginning at 4 p.m. PT and will broadcast live on ESPNU. Tickets will go on sale January 19 at 9:00 a.m. PT with more information available at Ticketmaster.

Throughout its 35-year history, the McDonald's All American Games have featured top basketball talents including Kobe Bryant, Alonzo Mourning, Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. More than 1,100 athletes have challenged themselves on and off the court to earn the right to sport the McDonald's All American Games jersey.

Benefitting McDonald's Charity of choice, RMHC, the Games have helped raise over $10 million for programs which include Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile clinics, which directly improve the health and well-being of children in neighborhoods around the world.

MOASC is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. Follow us on Twitter: @McDonalds_SoCal.

2013 McDONALD'S ALL AMERICAN GAMES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NOMINEES

BOYS NOMINEES

Joshua Brown    
Cathedral High School, Los Angeles

Ioannis Dimakopoulos
Catherdral High School, Los Angeles

Isaac Hamilton
St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower

Jordan Matthews
Santa Monica High School

Mamadou Ndiaye
Brethren Christian, Huntington Beach

London Perrantes
Crespi High School, Encino

Roschon Prince
Long Beach Polytechnical High School

Darien Williams  
Orange Lutheran High School, Orange County

Christian Wilson  
Cathedral City High School

Jordan Wilson  
Windward High School, Los Angeles

David Winfield  
Harvard-Westlake High School, Studio City

Brian Wright  
St. Anthony High School, Long Beach

Kris Yanku  
Taft High School, Woodland Hills

2013 GIRLS NOMINEES

DeJaunee Brooks
Cajon High School, San Bernardino

Kendall Cooper  
St. Anthony High School, Long Beach

Simone De Coud 
J.W. North High School, Riverside

Geena Gomez 
Edison High School, Huntington Beach

Gabriella Hanson 
Troy High School, Fullerton

Ahlisha Henderson 
Reseda High School

Courtney Jaco 
Windward High School, Los Angeles

Mercedes Jefflo 
Compton Centennial High School

Ashley Merrill 
Corona Centennial High School

Taylor Messick 
Laguna Hills High School

Keyla Morgan 
Long Beach Polytechnical High School

Janae Peterson 
Temescal Canyon High School, Lake Elsinore

Briana Roberson 
Troy High School, Fullerton

Chrishae Rowe  
Santiago High School, Corona

Karlie Samuelson 
Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana

Siera Thompson 
Serra High School, Gardena

August Touchard   
Junipero Serra High School, San Juan Capistrano

Miranda Williamson  
J.W. North High School, Riverside

SOURCE Southern California McDonald’s