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How many McDonald’s All-American basketball players came from New Jersey? Here's a list

app.com digital desk
·2 min read

New Jersey sure does produce a lot of hoopers.

The 47th annual McDonald’s All-American basketball game was played in Houston on Tuesday.

According to Max Preps, New Jersey has sent 49 players to the McDonald's All-American game.

What is the McDonald’s All-American?

According to the McDonald's All-American fact sheet on ESPN, the best high school basketball players in the country were named to the first McDonald's All-American Team in 1977.

"In 1978, McDonald's launched its own all-star high school game - the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game, featuring an East and a West team of the best high school boy players in the country."

This was the first national high school basketball all-star game and was played in front of 13,000 fans at The Spectrum in Philadelphia.

▶▶ Jerry Carino's Haggerty Award, All-Metropolitan college basketball ballot

How many McDonald's All-American players have come from NJ?

According to Basketball Reference, more than 50 New Jersey players have been selected to play in the annual high school all-star game — the ninth-most in the country, behind California, Virginia, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Indiana and Georgia (Florida and Texas are tied for fourth place.)

Here’s a list of the players selected from New Jersey:

2024

2023

  • Aaron Bradshaw

  • Mackenzie Mgbako

  • DJ Wagner

2019

  • Bryan Antoine

  • Scottie Lewis

  • Kahlil Whitney

2018

2017

  • Nicholas Richards

2015

  • Isaiah Briscoe

  • Malachi Richardson

2014

  • Karl-Anthony Towns Jr.

2011

  • Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

2010

  • Kyrie Irving

2009

  • Dominic Cheek

  • Dexter Strickland

2008

  • Michael Rosario

  • Samardo Samuels

2007

  • Corey Stokes

2006

  • Earl Clark

  • Lance Thomas

2005

  • Andrew Bynum

  • Brandon Costner

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2004

  • J.R. Smith

2003

  • Luol Deng

  • Charlie Villanueva

2002

  • Elijah Ingram

2001

  • Dajuan Wagner

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1999

  • Jay Williams

1998

  • Al Harrington

  • Danny Miller

1997

  • Anthony Perry

1996

  • Shaheen Halloway

  • Tim Thomas

1994

  • Lamarr Greer

1992

  • Rodrick Rhodes

1990

  • Luther Wright

1989

  • Bobby Hurley

1987

  • John Crotty

  • Bobby Martin

1986

  • Alaa Abdelnaby

1984

  • David Rivers

  • Kevin Walls

1982

  • Billy Thompson

  • Milt Wagner

1977

  • Ricky Harmon (selected as alternate for game)

Marley Malenfant contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: A list of McDonald's All-American basketball players from New Jersey