Can the McDonald's All American® Games Predict the 2007 NCAA Tournament Champion?

Bracket enthusiasts use any number of methods to narrow down the field: strongest backcourt, best team free-throw percentage, cutest mascot, etc. But one of the most reliable ways to pick a champion is to go with the teams that have former McDonald's All Americans on their rosters.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070319/CGM037LOGO )

At least one former McDonald's All American male player was part of every title between 1979 and 2002 when the University of Maryland snapped the streak. In 2003, the run began again with Syracuse. In all, 76 McDonald's All American alumni have played a role in an NCAA title. This year's pool of 65 teams began with 45 former McDonald's All Americans (out of 57 still active in NCAA basketball).

In 2007, nine of the 16 remaining teams have at least one McDonald's All American their roster, leaving teams like USC, Memphis, Texas A&M, Pitt and others with a statistical outsider's chance. A total of 20 McDonald's All Americans are still contending for a national championship. Below are the players, the year they played in the McDonald's All American Game® and their current schools:

   Name                          Year Played         School
   Corey Brewer                  2004                Florida
   Vernon Macklin                2006                Georgetown
   Darrell Arthur                2006                Kansas
   Mario Chalmers                2006                Kansas
   Sherron Collins               2006                Kansas
   Julian Wright                 2006                Kansas
   Wayne Ellington               2006                North Carolina
   Bobby Frasor                  2005                North Carolina
   Danny Green                   2005                North Carolina
   Tyler Hansbrough              2005                North Carolina
   Tywon Lawson                  2006                North Carolina
   Brandan Wright                2006                North Carolina
   Daequan Cook                  2006                Ohio State
   Mike Conley Jr.               2006                Ohio State
   Ivan Harris                   2003                Ohio State
   Greg Oden                     2006                Ohio State
   Aaron Brooks                  2003                Oregon
   Malik Hairston                2004                Oregon
   Aaron Afflalo                 2004                UCLA
   James Keefe                   2006                UCLA

"McDonald's All Americans and March Madness have a long history together," said Tara Hayes, McDonald's U.S. Communications. "It's a history that benefits college basketball fans across the country, year after year. We are proud that the McDonald's All American Games continue to be a solid predictor of leaders and champions, both on and off the court."

The future of the NCAA tournament will be showcased during the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games on March 28, 2007 just days before the "Final Four." Eight of the 24 boys on the 2007 McDonald's All American Teams will attend a current "Sweet 16" school this fall. Georgetown will bring in two next season. Florida, Memphis, USC, Kansas, UCLA and Ohio State will each add one. North Carolina currently has the most McDonald's All Americans with six.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary for the McDonald's All American Boys Game and the sixth annual Girls Game. The McDonald's All American Boys High School Basketball Game begins at 8:00 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on ESPN from Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. The sixth annual Girls Game will tip off earlier that day at 5:30 p.m. (EDT) and broadcast live on ESPNU.

The purpose of the McDonald's All American Games is to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®). A portion of the proceeds from the 2007 Games will go to RMHC of Kentuckiana. To date, the McDonald's All American Games have raised more than $5 million for RMHC and its local Chapters.

Tickets for the Games are still available at http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/ . For more information, visit http://www.mcdepk.com/2007allamericangame .

McDonald's USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald's visit http://www.mcdonalds.com/ .

  FOR MORE INFORMATION:
  Tara Hayes, McDonald's
  (630) 623-3826
  tara.hayes@mcd.com

  Emily Fullmer, GolinHarris
  (312) 729-4235
  efullmer@golinharris.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070319/CGM037LOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN14
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: McDonald's All American Game

CONTACT: Tara Hayes, McDonald's, +1-630-623-3826, tara.hayes@mcd.com ,
or Emily Fullmer, GolinHarris, +1-312-729-4235, efullmer@golinharris.com

Web site: http://www.mcdonalds.com/
http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/
http://www.mcdepk.com/2007allamericangame