The future of the Kentucky men’s basketball program will be on display this week at the McDonald’s All American Game in Chicago.
UK signees Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Sacha Killeya-Jones and Malik Monk will play in Wednesday night’s premier high school all-star game. The game will be televised at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, live from the United Center in Chicago.
Kentucky’s other 2016 signee, Wenyen Gabriel, was not eligible for the game as a fifth-year senior.
Monk is expected to compete in both the dunk contest and the 3-point contest in Monday night’s 2016 Powerade Jam Fest, which will be televised at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. All four of UK’s 2016 McDonald’s All-Americans took part in Monday’s practice.
Adebayo, Fox and Killeya-Jones will suit up for the East team in Wednesday night’s main event, while Fox will play for the West.
With the selections of Adebayo, Fox, Killeya-Jones and Monk, UK has signed 25 players during the John Calipari era 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 six in the 2013 class.
Fox, who made the Naismith All-America First Team for high school boys basketball, led Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) with a pair of back-to-back 40-point performances in the Texas high school state playoffs before falling in the regional finals. During the regular season he scored 30 or more points in 20 games, 40 or more eight times and even hit the 50-point mark in February.
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, made the 2015-16 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team in September and will play in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.
Adebayo will join Kentucky out of High Point Christian Academy in High Point, N.C., where he averaged 18.9 points and 13.0 rebounds his senior season. He led High Point Christian Academy to an appearance in the state title game.
Adebayo, who made the Naismith All-America Second Team, is ranked in the top 10 by ESPN (No. 4) and Rivals (No. 7). 247Sports (No. 15) 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. He’s also slated to play in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 15.
Killeya-Jones was a double-double machine during his final season at Virginia Episcopal in Lynchburg, Va., posting 13 games with at least 20 points and at least 10 rebounds.
A long, athletic big man considered to have a ton of upside, Killeya-Jones is a consensus top-10 forward in the class of 2016. The 6-foot-10, 207-pound forward is a highly skilled offensive post player who is a consensus top-30 player. 274Sports ranks him 14th overall, Rivals has him 26th, ESPN has him at No. 27 and Scout tabs him at No. 30.
Monk, a Naismith All-American (second team) 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, No. 6 by Rivals and Scout, and No. 8 by ESPN.
In a season in which he averaged 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists at taking Bentonville High School (Lepanto, Ark.), Monk’s season highlights include a single-game school scoring record with 53 points. He, who was named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team in September, led Bentonville to the state championship game. He will also play in the Jordan Brand Classic.
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).
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