The Kentucky men’s basketball team’s top-ranked recruiting class will be well represented during the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game in March with the selections of Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Sacha Killeya-Jones and Malik Monk.
Joining an elite list that features some of the greatest players to ever play for Kentucky, incoming Wildcats Adebayo, Fox, Killeya-Jones and Monk were selected to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Sunday night on ESPNU.
Adebayo, Fox and Killeya-Jones will suit up for the East team while Fox will play for the West. Kentucky’s two other signees in the 2016 class, Wenyen Gabriel (fifth-year senior) and Tai Wynard (already enrolled at Kentucky), were not eligible for the game, which will take place March 30 at 9 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago. It will be televised on ESPN.
With the selections of Adebayo, Fox, Killeya-Jones and Monk, UK has signed 25 players who have been named to the prestigious high school event, more than any other school in the country during that time period. Four players or more from each signing class have been tabbed McDonald’s All-Americans during the Calipari era, including five in the 2013 class.
Just last week, Adebayo, Fox and Monk were named to the 16-player Jordan Brand Classic, which will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 15.
Adebayo will join Kentucky out of High Point Christian Academy in High Point, N.C. He’s ranked in the top 10 by Rivals (No. 6) and ESPN (No. 6), 247Sports (No. 14) and Scout (No. 15) tab him as a top-15 prospect in the 2016 class. He has prior USA Basketball experience and was named a MaxPreps All-American in 2013. Adebayo recently eclipsed 2,000 career points for High Point Christian Academy.
Fox is rated as high as No. 2 overall in the rankings by 247Sports. Scout ranks him at No. 4, Rivals has him at No. 5 and ESPN tabs him No. 7. Scout and 247Sports both rank the five-star prospect as the No. 1 point guard in the talented 2016 group. He participated in the 2015 USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp and made the 2015-16 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team in September. Fox is having another stellar season for Cypress Lakes High where he scored began his senior season topping 40 points in four of 11 contests.
Killeya-Jones, a long athletic big man, is having a tremendous season at Virginia Episcopal in Lynchburg, Va., where he’s posted 20 or more points and 15 or more rebounds in four games this season. He’s a consensus top 35-player who is ranked 16th overall by 247Sports, 26th by Rivals, 29th by Scout and 31st by ESPN.
Monk is considered the top shooting guard in the class. At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Monk is a long and athletic guard that can both shoot it and make plays off the dribble. The consensus five-star prospect is ranked No. 5 overall in the 2016 class by 247Sports and ESPN and No. 6 by Rivals and Scout. Monk’s highlight to his senior season includes breaking a single-game scoring record with 53 points in a game for Bentonville High.
Kentucky has signed 57 McDonald’s All-Americans since the team began in 1977, including current Wildcats Isaiah Briscoe (2015), Marcus Lee (2013), Alex Poythress (2012) and Tyler Ulis (2014).
Former and current Wildcats who played in the McDonald's All-America Game previously during Calipari's tenure include: Devin Booker (2014), Briscoe (2015), DeMarcus Cousins (2009), Anthony Davis(2011), Archie Goodwin (2012), Aaron Harrison (2013), Andrew Harrison (2013), Dakari Johnson(2013), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2011), Terrence Jones (2010), Brandon Knight (2010), Doron Lamb (2010), Lee (2013), Trey Lyles (2014), Poythress (2012), Julius Randle(2013), Marquis Teague (2011), Karl-Anthony Towns (2014), Ulis (2014), Kyle Wiltjer(2011) and James Young (2013).
Tickets to this year’s game will go on sale Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. ET at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-866-909-GAME.
Here are the complete rosters for this years game...
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