McDonald's All-American Team
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The McDonald's All-American Team is named each year for boys' and girls' high school basketball. Consisting of the top American players, the teams play a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high school basketball season. As part of the event there is also a dunk contest and three point competition. The 2006 McDonald's All-American games were held on March 27.
The McDonald's All-American Team is the most well-known of the American high school basketball All-American teams. Having the designation of McDonald's All-American instantly brands a player as one of the top high school players in the United States.
The teams are sponsored by McDonald's, the restaurant chain.
[edit] History
The boys' team has been selected each year since 1977. The girls' team was added in 2002.
Many of the biggest stars in American basketball have been McDonald's All-Americans. The list of past team honorees includes Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Vince Carter, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Isiah Thomas.
Since the inception of the McDonald's All-American team, only twice has a US collegiate team won a national championship without having a former McDonald's All-American on its roster (Kentucky in 1978 and Maryland in 2002).