Georgia basketball signee Asa Newell wasn't named McDonald's All-American. This may be why

Georgia basketball five-star signee Asa Newell is ranked as the nation’s No. 11 overall prospect, but wasn't among those named Tuesday to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Why wasn't he among the 24 selected for the prestigious game?

It may be because Newell plays for powerhouse Montverde (Fla.) Academy which had three other players named to the team.

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According to the game’s website, historically only two players from the same team have been allowed to be selected to have a broad range of schools represented but in “rare exceptions,” a third player “has been allowed when the absence of this player would significantly undermine the quality of the game.”

That’s determined by a selection committee of “basketball experts,” chaired by committee chair Joe Wooten.

Newell, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound power forward, is averaging 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for a team ranked No. 1 in the USA Today High School Sports Super 25.

Montverde teammates that were picked for the McDonald’s game, officially announced on ESPN, were forward Cooper Flagg (Duke), center Derik Queen (uncommitted) and forward Liam McNeeley (Indiana).

Montverde basketball posted comments from coach Kevin Boyle to its X (formerly Twitter) account Tuesday night that said he hopes "to receive acknowledgement from the voting committee," that five of his players were voted into the game but because of the bylaws only three players made it. He said he spoke directly to most of the voters and "it it is clear to me that based on the way the voting is done and the votes that were cast Asa Newell and Robert Wright were voted into the game."

Georgia has signed two players in the last three decades that played for the Bulldogs that were McDonald’s All-Americans: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards in 2019 and NBA veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2011 who won an NBA title last season with the Denver Nuggets.

Newell signed with Georgia in November and is Montverde’s second highest rated prospect according to the 247Sports Composite. Flagg is No. 1, Newell is No. 11, Queen is No. 13 and McNeeley is No. 15.

Newell and Duke signee Kon Knueppel are the only top 20 ranked players left off the McDonald's rosters.

Newell spent time growing up in Athens and played high school ball at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., before transferring to Montverde.

The McDonald's All-American Boys Game will be played April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston at 9 p.m. on ESPN. The McDonald's All-American Girls Game is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Here’s a list of Georgia McDonald’s All-Americans through the years.

Anthony Edwards (2019)

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2011)

Carlos Strong (1992)

Shaun Golden (1989)

Litterial Green (1988)

Elmore Spencer (1987)

Melvin Howard (1983)

Donald Hartry (1982)

James Banks (1980)

Vern Fleming (1980)

Terry Fair (1979)

Dominique Wilkins (1979)

Note: Howard and Spencer began their college careers at Georgia before transferring. Louis Williams signed with Georgia in 2005 but opted for NBA. Damien Wilkins was a 1999 signee with N.C. State who transferred to Georgia.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: UGA basketball's Asa Newell not in McDonald's game. This may be why