3 Canadians Selected To Play In 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game
Posted on 10. Feb, 2011 by Nolan Shulman in Canada Spotlight, High School, Tournaments
It's been just more than 10 months since Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph made Canadian history and put youth basketball in our country on the biggest stage. The two Findlay College Prep superstars were the 4th and 5th Canadians to ever be selected to play in the McDonald's All-American game. In 1981, Montreal native Bill Wennington attended Long Island Lutheran and became the first Canadian to ever lace em up in the burger game. In 1986, Barry Bekkedam (Prescott, ON) became the second. In 2003 Olu Famutimi had a huge year for Northwestern HS in Flint, Michigan and was chosen to participate, but unfortunately had to sit out due to injury.
Tonight history was once again made as three Canadians were selected to play in the 2011 McDonald's All-American game. Khem Birch, Myck Kabongo, and Kyle Wiltjer will take to the hardwood March 30 at the United Center in Chicago, IL to compete vs. the best prospects North America has to offer.
Here's a closer look at the three Canadians selected to participate !
Khem Birch, Notre Dame Prep (MA) / Broowood Elite - TTC
Khem uses a combination of length, bounce, timing, and desire to make himself one of the best defensive prospects in the land. While that's the end of the floor that has people drooling over his potential, he also has the ability to run the floor, finish at the rim, and do the dirty work on the offensive glass. The Montreal native followed up a sensational summer in which he saw his stock soar by anchoring Notre Dame Prep's stingy defense in the difficult NEPSAC league.
Myck Kabongo, Findlay Collge Prep (NV) / Grassroots Canada
Kabongo entrenched himself as one of the world's elite point guards this summer, winning MVP at the Pangos All-American Camp and the All-Canada Classic. He was a standout at the NBA Camp, the King City Classic, and basically anything else he participated in. He also was the leader and go to guy on the Canadian Junior Men's National team that won bronze. He's been equally outstanding in the high school setting at Findlay Prep, picking up right where Cory Joseph left off. He has the Pilots in the thick of another National Championship race and was MVP of the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament a few weeks ago. Simply put, there was never any doubt he'd be rewarded with this honor.
Kyle Wiltjer, Jesuit (OR) / Oakland Soldiers
After playing on the Canadian Junior National team last summer and being an instrumental ingredient in picking up a medal, we've basically adopted Kyle as one of our own. While he wasn't born in Canada, plays high school basketball in Oregon, and can count on one hand the amount of times he's been to Tim Hortons, he's still a citizen and thus has the full support of the Canadian fan base. He's been a winner at every level, winning a State Championship, the Fab 48 in Vegas as a member of the Oakland Soldiers, and being part of a successful National team experience. He may not be an elite athlete, but he's become one of the most complete players in North America due to his fundamentals and versatility.
ROSTERS
East Team
Brad Beal, Chaminade College Prep (MO) / St.Louis Eagles
Chane Behanan, Bowling Green (KY) / Ohio Basketball Club
Kentavious Caldwell, Greenville (GA) / Georgia Blazers
Michael Carter-Williams, St.Andrew's (RI) / BABC
Rakeem Christmas, Academy of the New Church (PA) / Team Final
Quinn Cook, Oak Hill Academy (VA) / DC Assault
Michael Gilchrist, St. Patricks (NJ) / Team Final
P.J. Hairston, Hargrave Military Academy (VA) / CP3 All-Stars
James McAdoo, Norfolk Christian (VA) / Boo Williams
Johnny O'Bryant, East Side (MS) / Jackson Tigers
Shannon Scott, Milton (GA) / Southern Kings
Marshall Plumlee, Christ School (NC)
West Team
Khem Birch, Notre Dame Prep (MA) / Brookwood Elite - TTC
Marquis Teague, Pike (IN) / Spiece
Myck Kabongo, Findlay College Prep (NV) / Grassroots Canada
Austin Rivers, Winter Park (FL) / E1T1
Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park (IL) / Mac Irvin Fire
Anthony Davis, Perspectives Charter (IL) / Meanstreets
Branden Dawson, Lew Wallace (IN) SYF Players
LeBryan Nash, Lincoln (TX) / Dallas Mustangs
Adonis Thomas, Melrose (TN) / Memphis Magic
Amir Williams, Detroit Country Day (MI) / The Family
Kyle Wiltjer, Jesuit (OR) / Oakland Soldiers
Cody Zeller, Washington (IN) / Indiana Elite
**** Profiles supplied by Scout.com
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[...] Big shout to our boy Nolan Shulman as always for posting about this AND the entire All American team rosters … 3 Canadians Selected To Play In 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game | Flagrant Fouls [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Holly MacKenzie and Wesley Brown, Nolan Shulman. Nolan Shulman said: 3 Canadians Selected To Play In 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game | Flagrant Fouls http://bit.ly/i6z8Ed (Birch, Kabongo, Wiltjer) [...]