Kansas University men’s basketball signee Nick Collison expects jeers and cheers when in plays in next month’s prestigious McDonald’s All-America game.
Collison, a 6-foot-9 forward from Iowa Falls (Iowa) High, is one of 25 members of the McDonald’s all-star teams that will play on March 24 in Ames, Iowa.
“A lot of friends have already gotten tickets, and I think a lot of people from Iowa Falls will be going down,” Collison said. “I think there will be a lot of people in Iowa in general behind me. Then again, they might not be, since I’m not going to Iowa. I guess I’ll see.”
Collison is considered one of the best big men in the nation, but he knew he wasn’t a lock for the McDonald’s honor.
“I thought I had a good shot,” he said. “That’s what a lot of people told me. We think that since I went to Kansas that helped. They like to get players going to good programs. I knew I was probably borderline from where I’m ranked. I’m usually around No. 20 or 25, and there are 20 kids.
“It’s a big deal for me. I’ve watched it as long as I can remember. It’s the most prestigious all-star game there is. It’s exciting. If I had not been picked, that would have been fine, too, but it’s a great honor.”
Collison is aware that such all-star showcases typically don’t favor big men. They’re geared instead toward guards and long-range shooters.
“You never know what will happen in the game,” Collison said. “It’s an all-star game, so I might not even touch the ball. I think Raef (LaFrentz) only had two points in the game. It really depends on how the game goes.”
Collison said he probably would compete in the slam-dunk competition that is taped in advance and aired at halftime. He planned to eschew the three-point shooting contest.
“I’m going to have to think of some new dunks,” he said. “I’ll probably get some friends together and we’ll just come up with some new things. But I’m probably not going to do the three-point contest. I could just see getting on a cold streak.”
The West squad will consist of: Collison; Jonathan Bender, 6-11, Picayune, Miss.; LaVelle Blanchard, 6-7, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Carlos Boozer, 6-7, Juneau, Alaska; Brian Cook, 6-11, Lincoln, Ill.; Michael Dunleavy, 6-7, Portland, Ore.; Jason Gardner, 5-11, Indianapolis, Ind.; Jason Kapono, 6-7, Artesia, Calif.; Brett Nelson, 6-3, St. Albans, W.Va.; Jason Richardson, 6-6, Saginaw, Mich.
The East team is: Keith Bogans, 6-4, Hyattsville, Md.; Joseph Forte, 6-3, Hyattsville, Md.; Donyell Harvey, 6-7, Cuthbert, Ga.; Majestic Mapp, 6-1, New York; Casey Sanders, 6-11, Tampa, Fla.; Kenny Satterfield, 6-2, New York; Marvin Stone, 6-10, Huntsville, Ala.; Damien Wilkins, 6-7, Kensington, Md.; Jason Williams, 6-2, Metuchen, N.J.
