The names of its alumni are familiar to hard-core basketball junkies as well as even the most casual fan: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill, Michael Jordan.
Wednesday night, Juneau's prep basketball star Carlos Boozer joins that elite list when he takes the court against the nation's best high school seniors in the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game in Ames, Iowa.
The live, nationally televised game is set for 5 p.m. AST on ESPN.Preceding the game is the Sprite Slam Jam Competition at 3:30.
The 22nd annual event is routinely dubbed high school's version of the ``Dream Team,'' and 97 percent of McDonald's All Americans have played for Division I programs and more than 100 currently compete in the NBA, according to press releases.
Boozer, Alaska's reigning player of the year and a Parade All American in junior season, was one of 20 selections from over 1,500 nominees nation-wide. He becomes just the second Alaskan to play in the game after former East Anchorage star Trajan Langdon in 1994.
Boozer and Juneau coach George Houston were whisked away to Ames after the state tournament ended Saturday night and could not be reached for comment.
The 6-foot-9 inch, 240-pound center averaged 27.7 points per game, 11.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his senior season. Boozer led the Crimson Bears to a third-place finish at state this year and titles in 1997 and 1998. Capping those impressive statistics is his 67 percent shooting percentage from the floor and 35 percent from 3-point range. In addition, Boozer shot 74 percent from the free throw line.
Playing with Boozer is a Who's Who of prodigious high school talent. On his West squad is Michael Dunleavy, Jr., the son of Portland Trailblazer head coach Mike Dunleavy who has committed to Duke.
Also playing with Boozer on the West squad is Brett Nelson (6-3 point guard committed to Florida), Jason Gardner (5-11 PG, Arizona), Jason Kapono (5-7 shooting guard, undecided), Jason Richardson (6-6 2G, Michigan State), Jonathan Bender (6-11 center, Mississippi State), Brian Cook (6-11 center, Illinois), LaVell Blanchard (6-7 forard, undecided), Casey Jacobson (6-6 forward, Stanford) and Nick Collison (6-9 forward, Kanasas).
Boozer's competition on the East squad is Majestic Mapp (6-1 point guard, Virginia), Jason Williams (6-2 point guard, Duke), Joseph Forte (6-3 guard, North Carolina), Kenny Satterfield (6-3 guard, Cincinnati), Casey Sanders (6-11 center, Duke), Marvin Stone (6-10 center, Kentucky), Damien Wilkens (6-7 forward, North Carolina State), DerMarr Johnson (6-9 forward, undecided) and Donnell Harvey (6-7 forward, undecided).
Boozer has announced in the past that he wouldn't decide on a school until after the high school season. Duke, UCLA and St. John's are his final three choices.
