Does McDonald’s Not Like Minnesota Boys Players?

McDonald’s All American Games – Official Logo

Ryan James February 10, 2026 @ 10:57 AM

First of all.... I can tell you I am somewhat familiar with this McDonald's All American selection process because years ago I was the person picking the names and I made sure that the max of 20 players from the state of Minnesota were honored (I was told at the time that was the maximum number of names I could turn in). However, things in life changed, I had/have different jobs, and I was no longer a part of that process.

Over the years the amount of Minnesota boys high school basketball players that have been selected has gone way way done which is a shame.

Why is it a shame?

Because Jayden Moore Jayden Moore 6'0" | PG Hopkins | 2026 State MN - who is 100 percent deserving of course - shouldn't be the only senior in Minnesota that gets a plaque or certificate, he shouldn't be the only senior that gets to have the graphic made for him, he shouldn't be the only player in the state that gets to put "McDonald's All American nominee" on his college basketball bio page.

Keep in mind the total number of players honored nation wide and in nearby states:

-356 boys players honored as nominees nationwide in 2026, but yet just one in Minnesota?

-39 players from California

- 6 from Iowa

-11 from Missouri

-7 from Nevada

-14 from Oklahoma

-11 from Utah

This is not a one year thing either. Last year the honored names were Tommy Ahneman and Jalen Wilson, but not Nolan Groves and Chase Thompson who were the players that earned the Player of the Year awards. It was just two last season. Meanwhile Missouri had another 11 and Nevada had another 17.

In 2024 the only names honored from Minnesota were Isaiah Johnson and Jackson McAndrew. Meanwhile Nevada had nine, Missouri had a dozen, Utah had double figures and Cali had damn near 50.

In 2023, there were only two from Minnesota... Jack Janicki and Taison Chatman. Not Mr. Basketball winner Nasir Whitlock, not Nolan Winter who was also honored with a player of the year award. In 2022 there were four: Willie Wilson, Eli King, Tre Holloman, and Prince Aligbe but no Braeden Carrington (who won Mr. Basketball) and no Pharrel Payne.

You could say..... "Ryan, maybe their coaches didn't do what they needed to!". And that is a maybe, there is a process online BUT, that was not the case when I was a part of the process, we just picked the names.

And........ I have a very hard time believing that Wayzata High School filled out the paperwork for McAndrew but not Nolen Anderson Nolen Anderson 6'7" | SF Wayzata | 2026 State #113 Nation MN or Christian Wiggins Christian Wiggins 6'5" | SG Wayzata | 2026 State #120 Nation MN ...... Or Totino-Grace High School sent in stuff for Taison and Isaiah but not Chace Watley, Damarion Watson or Dothan Ijadimbola Dothan Ijadimbola 6'6" | SF Totino-Grace | 2026 State MN . And there are many other examples that just don't make sense to me.

What about the girls in Minnesota? They had 15 nominees in 2022, eight in 2023, seven in 2024, ten in 2025, and six in 2026. I realize that that girls basketball in Minnesota has more high level stars right now than boys, but not to the level of 46 nominations in the last five years compared to 11 on the boys side. Obviously things are being done differently from the boys side and the girls side.

Eleven in five years! Lol..... Oklahoma had more than that this year!

This is an honor for players and Minnesota student athletes need to be better represented. I have no proof when it comes to who is handling this in Minnesota but I have my suspicions and I would ask those involved to do better.

And whomever handles this nation wide for McDonald's, you can clearly see there are some odd trends going year after year after year, I have been looking at the trends for 30 minutes and just listed some of them for you. You need to do better.