How many McDonald’s All-American basketball players came from Texas? Here's a list
Texas is a football state, but it sure does produce a lot of hoopers.
The 47th annual McDonald’s All-American basketball game was played in Houston on Tuesday.
According to Max Preps, Texas alone has sent 69 players to the McDonald's All-American game.
Texas has a long history of basketball greats, some of whom became NBA All-Stars, champions, and basketball Hall-of-Fame inductees.
What is the McDonald’s All-American?
According to the McDonald's All-American fact sheet on ESPN, the best high school basketball players in the country were named to the first McDonald's All-American Team in 1977.
"In 1978, McDonald's launched its own all-star high school game -- the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game, featuring an East and a West team of the best high school boy players in the country."
This was the first national high school basketball all-star game and was played in front of 13,000 fans at The Spectrum in Philadelphia.
How many McDonald's All-American players have come from Texas?
According to Basketball Reference, over 60 players have been selected to play in the annual high school all-star game — the third most in the country, behind New York and California.
The Class of 2024’ 🏀
# 5. Richard Earl “Tre” Johnson III
6’6 - G - Link Academy
From: Dallas, Texas
Committed to Texas
- McDonald’s All American
- Texas Mr. Basketball
One of the most well rounded players in the class!! https://t.co/pYCLry3RMjpic.twitter.com/XVydeL3BJ6— Hoop Fiends 🏀💉 (@hoopfiends) January 26, 2024
Here’s a list of the players selected from Texas:
2024:
Tre Johson - Dallas
2023:
Ron Holland - Duncanville
2022:
Anthony Black - Duncanville
Arterio Morris - Dallas
Cason Wallace - Richardson
2021:
Daimion Collins - Atlanta (Texas)
Harrison Ingram - Dallas
2020:
Greg Brown III - Austin
Cade Cunningham - Arlington
2019:
Tyrese Maxey - Garland
Samuell Williamson - Rockwall
2018:
Quentin Grimes - The Woodlands
2017:
Jarred Vanderbilt - Houston
2016:
Jarrett Allen - Austin
Marques Bolden - DeSoto
Andrew Jones - Irving
De'Aaron Fox - Katy
Terrance Ferguson - Dallas
2015:
Jawun Evans - Dallas
2014:
Justin Jackson - Tomball
Emmanuel Mudiay - Dallas
Myles Turner - Euless
Justise Winslow - Houston
2013:
Keith Frazier - Dallas
Aaron Harrison - Richmond
Andrew Harrison - Richmond
Matt Jones - DeSoto
Julius Randle - Dallas
2012:
Cameron Ridley - Fort Bend
Marcus Smart - Flower Mound
Rasheed Sulaimon - Houston
2011:
LeBryan Nash-Dallas
2010:
Perry Jones - Duncanville
2009:
Tommy Mason - Griffin-Houston
2008:
Willie Warren - Fort Worth
2007:
Jai Lucas - Bellaire
2006:
Darrell Arthur - Dallas
D.J. Augustin - Missouri City
2005:
Byron Eaton - Dallas
Gerald Green - Houston
C.J. Miles - Dallas
2004:
LaMarcus Aldridge - Seagoville
Daniel Gibson - Houston
Jawann McClellan - Houston
2003:
Ndudi Ebi - Houston
Kendrick Perkins - Beaumont
Von Wafer - Cleveland (Texas)
2002:
Chris Bosh - Dallas
Daniel Horton - Cedar Hill
Bracey Wright - The Colony
Brad Buckman - Austin
2001:
Daniel Ewing - Houston
T.J. Ford - Houston
2000:
Brian Boddicker - Duncanville
Alton Ford - Houston
1998:
Rashard Lewis - Alief
1996:
Jerald Brown - Aldine
*Stephen Jackson*- Port Arthur (played high school basketball at Oak Hill in Virginia senior year)
1995:
Kris Clack - Austin
1994:
Andrae Patterson - Abilene
1993:
Bobby Crawford - Houston
1991:
Jimmy King - Plano
1989:
Shaquille O'Neal - San Antonio
Matt Wenstrom - Houston
1987:
Larry Johnson - Dallas
LaBradford Smith - Bay City
1985:
Tito Horford - Houston
1983:
Rickie Winslow - Houston
1979:
Greg Kite - Houston
1978:
Rudy Woods - Bryan
Who are the standout basketball players from Texas?
Jimmy Butler, Tomball (Tomball) Class of 2007
High school: As a junior at Tomball High, Butler averaged 10 points per game. As a senior and team captain in 2006–07, Butler averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and was subsequently voted his team's most valuable player.
College: earned All-Big East Honorable Mention honors at Marquette University.
Professional: Six-time All-Star. Five-time All-NBA. 2014-2015 Most Improved Player. Played in two NBA finals with the Miami Heat.
Chris Bosh, Lincoln (Dallas), Class of 2002
High school: Led Lincoln to the Class 4A state championship and was named Mr. Basketball in Texas. Also made first team All-American by Parade and McDonald's.
College: In his only season at Georgia Tech, Bosh was ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC second team after averaging 15.6 points per game.
Professional: The No. 4 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Bosh made 11 NBA All-Star Games and was All-NBA second team in 2007. He won a pair of NBA championships with the Heat.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Seagoville (Dallas), 2004
High school: Named the Class 4A POY, Aldridge also made the Parade Magazine All-American second team.
College: In two seasons at Texas, Aldridge earned All-Big 12 honors and was second-team All-American.
Professional: In 16 NBA seasons, Aldridge made the All-Star game seven times and was All-NBA five times.
Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, Sterling (Houston), 1980
High school: Not highly recruited out of high school, Drexler did make the all-district team while at Houston Sterling.
College: Played in a pair of Final Fours, including the final against North Carolina State in 1983. Earned second-team All-American honors as a junior.
Professional: Drafted 14th in the 1983 draft to the Portland Trail Blazers, Drexler played 16 seasons in the NBA, was a 10-time All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. He and the Blazers lost in the 1992 NBA Finals in six games.
Larry Johnson, Skyline (Dallas), 1987
High school: A McDonald's All-American in 1987, Johnson was also a Parade All-American and Mr. Basketball in Texas.
College: Johnson played at Odessa Junior College, where he was a two-time player of the year. He then went to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and led the Runnin' Rebels to an NCAA championship in 1990. He was a two-time All-American and earned national player of the year honors in 1991.
Professional: The 1992 Rookie of the Year, Johnson made the NBA All-Star game two times during his 10-year professional career and had one of the best marketing campaigns in league history.
Shaquille O'Neal, Cole (San Antonio), 1989
High school: O'Neal played two seasons at Cole (San Antonio), leading the team to a 68-1 record and a state championship. He was Texas Mr. Basketball, a Parade Magazine first-team pick, and the McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
College: In three seasons at LSU, O'Neal was twice the SEC Player of the Year and earned national player of the year honors in 1991.
Professional: In 19 seasons, O'Neal made 15 NBA All-Star games, made All-NBA 14 times (first team eight times), was a four-time champion and league MVP and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
— Max Preps attributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: A list of McDonald's All-American basketball players from Texas