But just one of the three — Kansas University signee J.R. Giddens of Oklahoma City’s John Marshall High — earned McDonald’s All-America honors.

University of Oklahoma freshman guard De’Angelo Alexander and Duke freshman forward Shelden Williams, both from Midwest City, Okla., last year did not qualify for admission to the 20-person McDonald’s team.

Alexander and Williams were suspended from the Midwest City High team two seasons ago after being accused of, but never being arrested for or even charged with, rape.

A 19-year-old woman who brought the complaint against the two players and one other individual following an incident in a Columbus, Ohio, hotel room refused to press charges, but Columbus police completed an investigation that was sent to a grand jury.

AP File Photo

The matter was dropped because of a lack of evidence, but the damage was done. The McDonald’s committee refuses to accept players who’ve been held out of action for an extended period of time.

The incident had a profound effect on the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Williams, who has averaged 8.3 points and 6.0

boards his freshman year at Duke heading into Thursday’s 8:57 p.m. Sweet 16 contest against Kansas at The Pond in Anaheim, Calif.

“It kind of changed me,” Williams said of the incident in an interview with the Raleigh (N.C.) News Observer. “I do feel more mature. I learned that a person of my status needs to be careful about who I associate with. Yeah, that matured me quickly.”

Sounds identical to comments uttered by KU signee Giddens after he, this past season, was involved in a shoplifting incident at a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma City. Giddens was cleared of wrongdoing and not suspended from his John Marshall team, meaning he can play in tonight’s McDonald’s game (6 p.m., ESPN).

Like Giddens, Duke’s Williams was supported by his future college coach, Mike Krzyzewski.

“Coach Krzyzewski told me to hang in there and I knew where his heart was,” Williams said.

Williams told the News Observer he didn’t pick up a basketball for three months after his high school suspension.

Now at Duke, Williams has had an up-and-down rookie season.

He scored 16 points against Fairfield and 15 versus Georgetown, but then scored in single figures in nine of 10 games and was relegated to mop-up minutes in three straight Atlantic Coast Conference games.

He’s been impressive since, scoring 20 points at Virginia and at North Carolina. He’s been in double figures in seven of Duke’s last 12 games, though he did tally just 13 points combined in first- and second-round West Regional victories over Colorado State and Central Michigan.

“As the season went along, I realized I really can score points and help my team out, get a lot of rebounds, block shots and play defense,” Williams told the News Observer. “As for foul trouble, I guess I learned from the refs to keep my hands straight up, and then, when I’m helping out I have to use my body, not my hands.”

Williams could be a key in Thursday’s Duke-KU game. He’ll be going against a seasoned, All-America candidate in Nick Collison.

“Shelden must be a little better for the postseason,” Krzyzewski said. “I think he’s been really good but you can forget what made you good. We’ve got to get him back to rebounding and playing defense.”

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Sanders adjusts: Duke senior Casey Sanders, a 6-11, 235-pounder from Tampa, Fla., averages 4.6 points and 5.2 boards a game in a reserve role.

The former McDonald’s All American started 21 games this year, but was yanked from the lineup after an 82-79 loss March 9 to North Carolina when Krzyzewski went with a speedier lineup.

“We had a heated tape session (the day) after the loss to UNC,” Sanders, a starter on Duke’s 2001 national championship team, told GoDuke.com. “Coach said we needed to make some changes. One decision was how we would start four guards with Daniel (Ewing) taking my place and me coming off the bench.

“It’s no big thing. I just go out and try to do my job. I know they need me regardless of whether I come off the bench or start, so I’ve been trying to step up my play and do the best I can with the minutes I’m given.”

Duke is 5-0 since Sanders embraced his bench role. He’s blocked 14 shots in five postseason games after blocking 22 in 16 regular-season ACC games. He had five blocks, five boards and six points in Duke’s narrow 67-57 victory over Colorado State last weekend in Salt Lake City.

“I have a better feel for the game coming off the bench,” Sanders said. “I can see the guys running up and down, see the opponent get up and down a little bit. Then when I get in there I try to bring a lot of energy.”