Local players nominated for McDonald's All-American game

The field for the 2009 McDonald's All-American game will be announced Wednesday night at 6 p.m., and several local players have been nominated for the event. Local boys include Garrius Adams (Middle Creek), Josh Davis (Athens Drive), Ryan Kelly (Ravenscroft), Stan Okoye (Knightdale), Earnest Ross (Panther Creek) and Tom Tankelewicz (Middle Creek). Local girls that have been nominated include Kelly Blake (Millbrook), Lakevia Boykin (Southeast Raleigh), Lindsay Cowher (Ravenscroft), Kelsey Evans (Wakefield), Shala Hodges (Enloe), Tamoria Holmes (Hillside), Brittany Morris (Broughton) and Asia Williams (Hillside). Kelly is expected to have a very good chance at earning a spot on the team. The senior has broken a number of school records at Ravenscroft, and represented the United States on the U18 national team last summer in Argentina. Kelly has signed with Duke, and will begin classes in Durham next fall. John Wall, the No. 1 point guard in the nation, will not be eligible to play on the McDonald's All-American team. Event officials have decided not to allow players who reclassify to participate. Wall reclassified after transferring from Broughon to Word of God, and is now in his fifth year of high school. Wall is one of the most sought after recruits in the Class of 2009. His list now includes Baylor, Duke, Memphis, Miami and N.C. State. The McDonald's All-American game has been an annual event since 1977 when it was held in Washington, D.C. This game will be played in Miami this year, and will feature a slam dunk and 3-point shooting contest.