McDonald’s taps 3 KU signees

By Gary Bedore     Feb 24, 2005

For the first time in history, Kansas University will have three representatives in the McDonald’s All-America basketball game.

Incoming Jayhawks Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs and Julian Wright have accepted invitations to play for the West team in the annual hamburger game, set for March 30 at the Joyce Center on Notre Dame’s campus in South Bend, Ind.

“I think it’s great,” KU coach Bill Self said Wednesday. “It’s certainly a goal of all high school players to have a chance to play in the McDonald’s game, and now this becomes a reality for those three.”

KU has had as many as two players in the contest before, but never three.

“They’ve all had very good years,” Self said of Chalmers, a 6-foot-2 point guard from Anchorage, Alaska; Downs, a 6-8 guard/forward from Bothell, Wash.; and Wright, a 6-9 forward from Chicago Heights, Ill.

“They all had very good summers leading into their senior year, which is always a big bonus. We are extremely proud to have them a part of our program. Certainly making the McDonald’s team does not guarantee success. I do think it’s a goal each one of these guys set for themselves, and I am certainly very happy for them.”

North Carolina and Duke also will have three players in the game. Carolina will be represented by Bobby Frasor of Chicago; Tyler Hansbrough of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and Danny Green of North Babylon, N.Y.

Duke will be represented by Greg Paulus of Manilus, N.Y.; Josh McRoberts of Carmel, Ind.; and Eric Boateng of London.

The only other Big 12 Conference signees in the game are Oklahoma State recruits Gerald Green of Houston and Byron Eaton of Dallas, and Texas signee C.J. Miles of Dallas.

The McDonald’s game has become a showcase for NBA scouts.

“You are always a little bit concerned,” Self said of McDonald’s players perhaps turning pro right out of high school. “I do want those guys to do well and believe they will. I am pretty confident all will be here next year. If they perform so well they can be drafted high, I can certainly understand why they wouldn’t (be at KU).”

Last year, North Carolina signee J.R. Smith wasn’t being talked about as a possible NBA pick until after the McDonald’s game.

“Based on what I’ve been told, you can certainly help yourself in the game, but you have a much better chance of helping yourself in practice leading up to the game,” Self said. “There’s a four-day window (of practice) guys can help themselves, like J.R. Smith did.”

Self says having three All-Americans, “puts expectations on your program, people thinking these guys should deliver right off the bat. It’s one of those deals if they don’t make it you say we’ll have hungrier kids when they get here. If they make it, you’ve got to say, ‘Boy, I’m really happy for them,’ because it is a big deal for a high school kid.

“In a perfect world, you get the best players, and nobody knows they are good. It will not happen if they play in the McDonald’s game.”

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