7 CT Scholastic Hoopsters In Running For McDonald's All American Games

HOUSTON, TX — For more than four decades, some of the top high school boys basketball players in the country have showcased their skills on a national stage at the McDonald's All American Games. Some of the greatest players in the game's history have participated in the event, including Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Patrick Ewing, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Chris Mullin and Grant Hill.

Beginning in 2002, a girls' game was added to the festivities, with stars such as Candace Parker, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and Paige Bueckers walking away with national player of the year honors.

The 2024 games will be played April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The girls' game airs at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2, followed by the boys' contest at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

A total of 48 players will be selected to play, and after preliminary nominations by coaches, athletic directors and administrators, five boys and two girls from Connecticut schools are still in the running for spots on the squads. They are:

• Tyler Betsey, St. Thomas More School, Oakdale
• Makai Coleman, Newtown High School
• Amari Cruz, CREC Academy of Science and Innovation, New Britain
• Jackson Forte, New Britain High School
• Abijah Miller, Sport and Medical Sciences Academy, Hartford
• Juliana Brimecombe, Oxford High School
• Ayanna Franks, Windsor High School

The top 24 girls and 24 boys will be revealed Tuesday, Jan. 23 on ESPN’s NBA Today between 3-4 p.m., and announced across ESPN’s various social and digital platforms.