by Alex Schwartz

The 2008-2009 school year has just begun, and we still have a while until the start of the high school basketball season, and over six months from the McDonald's All-American Game, but I want to give my projections for the 2009 game nonetheless. I'll likely update the list every so often, and will eventually have a final projection. Here goes with Northstar Basketball's first McDonald's All-American Game participant predictions:

Name, Position, High School, College Choice
Kenny Boynton, SG, American Heritage (FL), Uncommitted
Avery Bradley, SG, Findlay College Prep (NV), Texas
Dominic Cheek, SG, St. Anthony's (NJ), Uncommitted
DeMarcus Cousins, C, LeFlore (AL), UAB
Derrick Favors, C, South Atlanta (GA), Uncommitted
Abdul Gaddy, PG, Bellarmine Prep (WA), Arizona
Keith "Tiny" Gallon, C, Oak Hill Academy (VA), Uncommitted
Jordan Hamilton, SF, Dominguez (CA), Uncommitted
Xavier Henry, SG, Putnam City (OK), Uncommitted
John Henson, PF, Sickles (FL), North Carolina
Tyler Honeycutt, SF, Sylmar (CA), UCLA
Jon Hood, SG, Madisonville North Hopkins (KY), Kentucky
Milton Jennings, PF, Pinewood Prep (SC), Clemson
Wally Judge, PF, Arlington Country Day School (FL), Kansas State
Ryan Kelly, PF, Ravenscroft (NC), Uncommitted
Daniel Orton, C, Bishop McGuinness (OK), Uncommitted
Renardo Sidney, PF, Fairfax (CA), Uncommitted
Michael Snaer, SG, Rancho Verde (CA), Uncommitted
Lance Stephenson, SG, Lincoln (NY), Uncommitted
Dexter Strickland, PG, St. Patrick's (NJ), North Carolina
Dante Taylor, PF, National Christian Academy (MD), Pitt
Christian Watford, SF, Shades Valley (AL), Indiana
Maalik Wayns, PG, Roman Catholic (PA), Villanova
Royce White, SF, Hopkins (MN), Minnesota

Last Three In
Royce White, SF, Hopkins (MN), Minnesota
Keith "Tiny" Gallon, C, Oak Hill Academy (VA), Uncommitted
Christian Watford, SF, Shades Valley (AL), Indiana

First Three Out
Thomas Robinson, PF, Brewster Academy (NH), Uncommitted
Mouphtaou Yarou, PF, Montrose Christian (MD), Villanova
Mason Plumlee, PF, Christ School (NC), Duke

NOTES
- This is not my opinion of who should be in the game. Rather, it is who I think actually will be in it.
- There must be four players at each position in the game, and thus some players I originally had in the game are out, and some originally not in it are in so that requirements were met.
- Fifth year/prep players such as John Wall and Alex Oriakhi are ineligible for the McDonald's All-American Game, and thus are not listed.

Please do not hesitate to comment on this list and express what you think!

Note- ESPNU, Rivals, and Scout used as sources for information.