Each year, the top high school players in the country are designated as McDonald’s All Americans. Nearly all of these players play at the collegiate level (now that the NBA has a rule requiring a year of experience before entering the draft.) Our hoops experts wanted to look back and evaluate how far the 2008 All-Americans have come since last season.
Al-Farouq Aminu
The former Georgia star is now playing for Wake Forest, which has been ranked near the top of the country this year. As a 6′9” power forward, Aminu is averaging 12.6 points per game as the team’s 3rd leading scorer.
Tyreke Evans
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Evans now leads a highly rated Memphis squad which reached the finals last season, losing many players to the NBA Draft. Evans is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.6 PPG.
Samardo Samuels
After playing in New Jersey, by way of Jamaica, Samuels plays center for the University of Louisville, where he is a regular starter averaging 15 points per game for the highly ranked Cardinals.
Demar DeRozan
As one of California’s top players, DeRozan plays for USC and is one of the top shooting guards in the country. He is averaging just over 12 points per game as a regular starter for the Trojans, one of the top teams in the PAC-10.
Jrue Holiday
Playing at UCLA, Holiday is a top point guard from California who has had an instant impact for the Bruins. Holiday is averaging just over 9 points per game and has started every single game this season.
Brandon Jennings
Bypassing the NCAA, Jennings now plays in the Italian Pro League for Lottomatica Roma where he has been a backup player. Widely expected to enter the 2009 NBA Draft, Jennings is averaging just over 8 points per game in the league, playing only 17 minutes per contest.
