With their nomination to the McDonalds All American High School Boys and Girls Basketball Team, five students from Alexandria were recently recognized as top high school basketball standouts in the nation.  

These five students rank among the top 1,500 nominees competing to fill one of 24 positions on the Boy and Girls Teams, which will feature an East vs. West showdown on March 26 in Milwaukee, Wis.  

The final team roster will be announced in February. These students were nominated by the McDonalds All American Basketball Team Boys Selection Committee, a group of 32 prominent basketball experts, including nationally-renowned coaches and top high school sports journalists.  

Its a fantastic accomplishment and we are truly pleased to know that such talented athletes have been nominated from our area, said Jim Van Valkenburg, local McDonalds Owner/Operator.  We are proud to have student athletes who serve as role models to their peers and McDonalds congratulates them on their success. We wish them the best of luck.  

The Boys Game will tip off at 9:30 p.m. EST, Wednesday, March 26, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis. and will air live on ESPN. The Girls Game will precede the Boys Game at 7:00 p.m. EST and will broadcast live on ESPNU.

A portion of the proceeds from both Games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Since 1977, over 700 male players have competed in the McDonalds All American Games, forming an elite list that reads like a “Whos Who” in basketball history.  McDonalds All American athletes include basketball greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and current college stand-outs such as Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Kevin Love (UCLA). 

Go to www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com for a complete list.