Twenty-one locals among McDonald’s All-American nominees

The McDonald's All-American selection committee has released its list of 1,000 nominees - including 21 from South Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania - for its All-American game, scheduled for March 30 in Chicago.

The final roster will consist of 24 players and will be named at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 on ESPNU.

Four of the 10 seniors nominated from Southeastern Pennsylvania play in the Public League, including three from Imhotep Charter: David Appolon, Erik Copes, and Ameen Tanksley.

The only nominee from Southeastern Pennsylvania or South Jersey to commit to a Big Five school is Jerrell Wright, who is averaging more than 20 points for Dobbins and will head to La Salle next season.

Five nominees have committed to Big East schools: Jaylen Bond (Plymouth Whitemarsh) and Malcolm Gilbert (Academy of the New Church), who will attend Pitt; Aaron Brown (Penn Wood), West Virginia; Rakeem Christmas (ANC), Syracuse; and Jabril Trawick (Abington Friends), Georgetown.

The only nominee from Southeastern Pennsylvania not to commit yet to a college is Friends' Central's Devin Coleman. Phoenix coach Jason Polykoff said the 6-foot-2 guard is waiting until after the season to make a decision. He is considering Clemson, Penn, Rhode Island, and Rice.

New Egypt center Desmond Hubert highlights the 10 South Jersey nominations. The 6-10 senior is averaging 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocks. He has yet to commit to a school and, according to Warriors coach Jon Corby, is looking at North Carolina or Maryland.

"He's putting up numbers that you don't see in high school basketball," Corby said of Hubert. He averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 blocks as a junior.

Life Center's senior tandem of John Johnson and LaQuinton Ross also received nominations. Johnson, a 6-1 guard, will join Bond and Gilbert at Pitt, and Ross, a 6-8 forward, will head to Ohio State.

Camden County native and Kentucky recruit Michael Gilchrist also was nominated. The 6-7 small forward plays for St. Patrick's in Elizabeth.

The last area player to play in the McDonald's game was Roman Catholic senior - and now Villanova Wildcat - Maalik Wayns in 2009. The last local player to be named game MVP was Chester native Tyreke Evans, now with the Sacramento Kings.

Area Nominees

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

 David Appolon, Imhotep

Jaylen Bond, Plymouth Whitemarsh

Aaron Brown, Penn Wood

Rakeem Christmas, Academy of the New Church

Devin Coleman, Friends' Central

Erik Copes, Imhotep

Malcolm Gilbert, Academy of the New Church

Juan'ya Green, Archbishop Carroll

Ameen Tanksley, Imhotep

Jabril Trawick, Abington Friends

Jerrell Wright, Dobbins

SOUTH JERSEY

 Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick

Desmond Hubert, New Egypt

John Johnson, Life Center

Khalid Lewis, Trenton Catholic

Charlie Monaghan, St. Augustine

Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine

Luke Piotrowski, Atlantic Christian

Robert Poole, Paul VI

LaQuinton Ross, Life Center

Chris Santo, Cherry Hill East