McDs all americans

Is it still a thing that if you commit to Duke it greatly enhances your chances of being named a McDonalds All-American?

 

Casey Sanders is the poster child.

 

Participating are 2 UK commits, 2 Ark commits and 2 Bama commits. SEC getting stronger it appears.

 

Spectacular high school player. I saw him play at the Belleview high school gym against one of the Ocala high school teams on the way home from a Gator game. In addition to a strong offensive game, Casey blocked 17 shots in the game. Casey got stuck behind Carlos Boozer at Duke and didn’t get a ton of playing time. He deserved his honors. Unfortunately, he didn’t go to Florida. His high school coach, Joe Fenton, was pushing him to Duke.

 

Under Donovan, Florida used to get 1-2 Micky D's per year.
Some of the last ones under BD who were also Floridians that went to UF: Kasey Hill (2013-14), Chris Walker(2013-14) and Patrick Young (2010-11). Also, Bradley Beal (2011-12).
2010 McDonald's All-American Boys Game - Wikipedia
2013 McDonald's All-American Boys Game - Wikipedia

In the 2019 class, Mike White himself signed a couple of McDonald All-Americans to Florida:
Tre Mann (Gainesville,FL) & Scottie Lewis.
2019 McDonald's All-American Boys Game - Wikipedia

As for the 2022 class, Florida has 5* Center, 6'8 215 Malik Renau (Hilaeh Gardens, FL) and 4* Center, 6'9 230 Jalen Reed (Los Angelas, California).
College Basketball Recruiting Schools - ESPN
ESPN Basketball Recruiting - Player Rankings

If Appleby leaves after this season, White could use another point guard or two along with some other wings in this next class. If it comes down to it, the transfer portal may be another option.

 

2022 McDonald's All-American Boys Game - Wikipedia

After closer inspection,
Only two out of six are from the state of Florida; the rest of them (IMG Academy & Monte Verde Academy) are "out of staters".

Would you say that it would be politics that Florida's Renaeu who is ranked higher than Kansas' Udeh be left off this Boys All-American team? Both of these players are from Florida high schools yet one went to a perennial Blue Blood and the other did not.
ESPN Basketball Recruiting - Player Rankings

There were times that Florida would sign a 5* basketball player yet they would also be missing from this type of team. Devin Robinson (2014-15) would come to mind.
ESPN Basketball Recruiting - Player Rankings

(No Devin Robinson on this list despite being a 5* on ESPN 2014 recruiting;
makes one want go hmmm..why was that?)
2014 McDonald's All-American Boys Game - Wikipedia

 

I thought all of you most of you guys rooted for other SEC teams to get better. You should be thrilled. Keep saying good things about them and rag on the Gators.

 

Lo

 

Yep I was there as well. They played against Belleview High who never seemed t get the message he could block shots. It was strange how BHS kept driving it in deep hoping to make layups deep into the 4th quarter. I guess because Billy D was there Belleview was helping Casey impress the fans.

 

Is MW a good enough recruiter?

He is paid like the 5th-6th best coach in the league. He has recruited in the 4th-5th range and our average finish in the league since he has been here has been 5th.

Seems to me we are getting what we pay for.

 

I have to correct you. They didn’t play against Belleview. It was against one of the Ocala high schools. Ladarius Halton’s school also played in that jamboree. He was spectacular. Gator fans never got to see what he could do because of his injuries. Billy D’s showing up was amazing considering that the Gators had just finished playing LSU.

 

Maybe so but it wasn't a very well played game other than counting all the blocks. I was photographing at the game and kept trying to stand near Billy to hear the conversation but the gym was too loud. I was there photographing for BHS which made me think they were playing. I was there for many of the games in the showcase that Saturday and after awhile they all ran together.

 

One other thing I remember was Casey wearing a Duke baseball hat. When I saw that, I knew we weren’t getting the kid.

 

I had the same feeling the night I went to Daytona and watched Vince Carter dunk like crazy and before the game wearing a UNC cap. Oh well

 

Things sure changed with Billy. Pretty much right out of the gate with Parker, Wright, Dupay, Halton, Haslem and Sylbrin Robinson from Florida, and Miller, Nelson, Harvey and Bonner from out of state. What a haul.

 

The old Diamondback Challenge. Used to be a great 2 day event. That, along with the Kingdom, brought in a ton of talent to the Ocala area over the years.

 

Halton was electric on the floor when he was healthy, one of the great what ifs.

 

He scored 76 points in a game against Pine Ridge in his senior year at New Smyrna Beach. I believe that was shortly after Teddy Dupay had scored 70 points in a game.