22 Georgia Hoopers Nominated For McDonald's All American Games
On Wednesday, 2023 McDonald’s All American list of nominees was announced and Georgia was well represented as a total of 22 girls and boys high school basketball players from around the state were named to the list. From as far south as Valdosta and Hinesville to east in Covington, a well-represented group of student athletes will look to be named to the final roster, which will be announced on January 23, 2023 on NBA Today on ESPN.
Of the 22 total Georgia players nominated, 12 were representing on the girls side with St. Francis (Erica Moon and Trynce Taylor) and Lowndes (Otaifo Esenabhalu and Faith Johnson) leading the way with two nominees each. Other girls’ nominees from Georgia include Diana Collins (Brookwood), Courtney Ogden (Westminster), Elle Blatchford (Sequoyah), La’Niya Foster (Lovejoy), Bailey Gilmore (Bradwell Institute), Aaliyah Hunt (Peachtree Ridge), Essence Cody (Valdosta), and Mataya Gayle (River Ridge).
Of the 10 Georgia boys players nominated, four are members of defending Georgia High School Association 7A state champions, Norcross, as Bilal Abdur-Rahman, Samarion Bond, Lamariyon Jordan and Mier Panoam were all revealed as nominees. The Wheeler Wildcats, who won back to back state titles (2020-2021), are represented with two players on the list of nominees in Isaiah Collier and Arrinten Page and the Newton Rams also have two players in Stephon Castle and Jakai Newton named as nominees. RJ Kenneday Jr. (Fayette County) and Jaiun Simon (Pebblebrook) round out the list of boys nominees from Georgia.
“Becoming a McDonald’s All American Games nominee is bigger than one person, it’s about representing your family, friends and community on the national stage and doing so with pride of what you earned and respect for those that have paved the way,” Vicki Chancellor, an Atlanta based McDonald’s Owner/Operator said in regards to the announcement of nominees. The McDonald’s All American Games will take place on March 27 and will air on the ESPN networks.
