The future is now

By Eric Williams Sports Central Columnist

With so many players leaving early, or bypassing college altogether, the McDonald's game gives the college game the opportunity to replenish its ranks with star athletes and, more often than not, provides a team on the cusp of winning a championship, the difference-maker it needs to get over the hump.

The McDonald's Game also gives NBA executives, college coaches, and fans alike, the opportunity to see the future stars of the game before they go off to college or, more likely, the NBA. It also allows the players the chance to show off their wares in front of scouts, talent evaluators, and college coaches, all while testing their games against the best high school competition in the country. And even though the McDonald's game isn't the only national high school all-star game, it is the most recognizable and the most prestigious.

Recent history has shown us that in order for a college program to be successful and compete for a national championship, their roster must have at least one player who was a McDonald's All-American. Ever since the first McDonald's game was played in 1977, teams that eventually won the championship have had at least one former McDonald's All-American play an integral role in his team's success. Gene Banks, a gifted guard, played in the inaugural McDonald's All-American Game and a year later, helped lead Duke to the championship game, where they fell victim to Kentucky.

The next year, Michigan State, led by all-world guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson, won the national championship against Larry Bird and Indiana State, in a game many credit with rekindling the nation's love affair with college basketball. That year's All-Tournament Team included two former McDonald's All-American's, DePaul's Mark Aguirre and Michigan State's Johnson, starting a trend of former McDonald's All-Americans on the All-Tournament team, which continues to this day. Johnson, who was named as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, was also the first former McDonald's All-American to be honored with that award.

Taking the argument even further, since the game's inception, there have been only four All-NCAA Tournament teams that have not been represented by at least one former McDonald's All-American, in 1978, 1980, 1998 and 2002. In addition, of the 26 players who've been named tournament Most Outstanding Player since the McDonald's game has been in existence, 17 of them have been former McDonald's All-Americans.

So, what makes having these high school All-Americans so special? Why are they so vital to a team's chances of competing for, and winning, a championship? And what does that mean for the teams participating in this weekend's games?

Well, with the number of the best high school players completely bypassing college for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that is the NBA increasing, many colleges are left to pick from the scraps of what's left over. Which, in today's world, means a fairly large group of pretty good ballplayers who must maximize every ounce of their basketball talent in order to get better and help his team compete and win games.

However, since most of these players were not included in that group of the best high school players in their class, many teams now are playing with cards from the same deck. Parity, once a dirty word in sports, is now a buzzword, synonymous with the increased competition and lower standards of play that has become part of the college basketball game.

However, having one or two, or in some cases, three or four former McDonald's All-Americans on your roster, can be the difference between being a legitimate title contender and an also-ran. As in any sport, talent usually wins out and the more of it you have, the better the chances of your team winning. Often times, the level of talent on a team can help overcome any shortcomings a team may possess, whether it be a lack of depth, height, or injuries.

Teams like Duke and UConn were able to succeed this year because of the level of talent on their roster. Many nights, they just simply overwhelmed their opponent with their sheer basketball skill. Granted, both teams are expertly coached by Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Calhoun, respectively, but their talent levels definitely made both coaches' jobs a lot easier.

The McDonald's game is also important because it allows the players to gauge themselves against the best competition at that level. It can be a stepping-stone to great things in their basketball career. Even though many of the players today play against each other during the summer with their various traveling AAU teams, it never hurts to play against great competition and another great player and hold your own.

As one former participant in the McDonald's game so eloquently stated, "Playing in the McDonald's All-American High School Game gave me an opportunity to compete against the greatest players in the United States. I was just beginning to pursue basketball as a career and was questioning my skills. That game helped build my confidence."

Those words were uttered by none other than Michael Jordan. The confidence a player can get from playing in this game can be a carry over for the next season, and the rest of a player's career, when they're repeatedly matched up against players of similar ability and athleticism. They can draw upon that experience of playing against some of the best players out there and being able to compete on equal footing.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.