by Alex Schwartz

Yesterday I posted both my projections of the 24 selections for the 2011 McDonald's All-American Game as well as the actual list of honorees. Now I will provide the list of the 24 players that I personally feel should have been selected to the game.

In compiling this list, I followed McDonald's All-American Game regulations for eligibility and thus fifth-year players as well as players who did not play in 50% of their team's games this season are not included. This means that three guys who I would have selected (Quincy Miller, DeAndre Daniels, and Michael Gbinije) are not on the list.

There is clearly a weak crop of big men in the class of 2011, but I wanted to be sure to include at least one pure low post player and two other big men on each team. Official game guidelines suggest at least two players per position on each team (meaning four bigs per team), but that is not mandatory, and thus I opted to go with fewer than eight total so that the strength of the class, which is the guards and wings, was better represented.

Have a look below at the 24 players that would have made up my McDonald's All-American Game ballot. The players are broken down into two teams. Also mentioned are the other players who received consideration, as there were 11 players in contention for the final two spots. All lists are in alphabetical order.

In each list, players whose names are in italics are those who were not selected to the official game. Players listed as "PF/C" or "SF/PF" are natural fits at the first position, but have the ability to play the other and are being put in that spot for roster purposes.

EAST TEAM
Khem Birch, PF/C, 6'9, Notre Dame Prep (MA), Pitt
Wayne Blackshear, SG, 6'5, Morgan Park (IL), Louisville
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 6'5, Greenville (GA), Georgia
Rakeem Christmas, C, 6'9, Academy of the New Church (PA), Syracuse
Quinn Cook, PG, 6'0, Oak Hill Academy (VA), Duke
Branden Dawson, SF, 6'5, Lew Wallace (IN), Michigan State
Michael Gilchrist, SF, 6'7, St. Patrick's (NJ), Kentucky
Myck Kabongo, PG, 6'2, Findlay Prep (NV), Texas
James McAdoo, PF, 6'8, Norfolk Christian (VA), North Carolina
Austin Rivers, SG, 6'4, Winter Park (FL), Duke
JaKarr Sampson, SF/PF, 6'7, Brewster Academy (NH), St. John's
BJ Young, PG, 6'2, McCluer North (MO), Arkansas

WEST TEAM
Adjehi Baru, PF/C, 6'9, Steward School (VA), College of Charleston
Brad Beal, SG, 6'3, Chaminade (MO), Florida
Jabari Brown, SG, 6'4, Oakland (CA), Oregon
Anthony Davis, PF, 6'9, Perspectives Charter (IL), Kentucky
Nick Johnson, SG, 6'3, Findlay Prep (NV), Arizona
LeBryan Nash, SF, 6'6, Lincoln (TX), Oklahoma State
Marquis Teague, PG, 6'1, Pike (IN), Kentucky
Adonis Thomas, SF, 6'7, Melrose (TN), Memphis
Shannon Scott, PG, 6'1, Milton (GA), Ohio State
Kyle Wiltjer, PF, 6'9, Jesuit (OR), Kentucky
Tony Wroten, Jr., PG, 6'4, Garfield (WA), Washington
Cody Zeller, PF/C, 6'10, Washington (IN), Indiana

Just Missed
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, 6'6, IC Norcom (VA), Virginia Tech
D'Angelo Harrison, SG, 6'2, Dulles (TX), St. John's
Johnny O'Bryant, PF, 6'9, East Side (MS), LSU
Josiah Turner, PG, 6'3, Quality Education Academy (NC), Arizona

Others Considered
Chane Behanan, PF, 6'7, Bowling Green (KY), Louisville
Michael Carter-Williams, SG, 6'5, St. Andrew's (RI), Syracuse
PJ Hairston, SG, 6'4, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), North Carolina
Rodney Hood, SF, 6'7, Meridian (MS), Mississippi State
Dezmine Wells, SF, 6'4, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), Xavier

Note- photo is of Nick Johnson and is from http://www.lasvegassun.com/