Former WPIAL standout Meleek Thomas chosen for McDonald’s All American Game
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Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | 2:39 AM
Former WPIAL basketball player Meleek Thomas, who transferred out of state for his senior year, was chosen Monday for the McDonald’s All American Game.
A 6-foot-4 guard committed to Arkansas, Thomas was one of 24 boys chosen for the national all-star game played April 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Thomas now competes for Overtime Elite, an eight-team league in Atlanta with its own academy for high school students. He ranks second among league scorers this winter, averaging 26.5 points per game.
Before moving south, Thomas won consecutive WPIAL and PIAA titles with Lincoln Park. He was twice named the TribLive HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
This is the 48th year for the McDonald’s event, which now includes two games, one each for boys and girls. The girls game will be televised by ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. ESPN will televise the boys contest at 9 p.m.
The all-star games are preceded by a skills competition at 7:15 p.m. March 31 on ESPN2.
West roster
Name, Pos., Ht., School (Location), College
Alijah Arenas, G, 6-6, Chatsworth (Los Angeles), undecided
Mikel Brown Jr., G, 6-3, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Louisville
Niko Bundalo, F, 6-10, Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (Napa, Calif.), Washington
Brayden Burries, G, 6-4, Eleanor Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.), undecided
Chris Cenac Jr., C, 6-10, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), Houston
AJ Dybantsa, F, 6-9, Utah Prep Academy (Hurricane, Utah), BYU
Nikolas Khamenia, F, 6-8, Harvard-Westlake (Los Angeles), Duke
Koa Peat, F, 6-7, Perry H.S. (Gilbert, Ariz.), undecided
Darryn Peterson, G, 6-6, Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (Napa, Calif.), Kansas
Meleek Thomas, G, 6-4, Overtime Elite Academy (Atlanta), Arkansas
Caleb Wilson, F, 6-9, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Atlanta), North Carolina
Tounde Yessoufou, F, 6-5, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.), Baylor
West coach: Danny Broussard, St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.)
Assistant coaches: Wesley Cortese, St. Thomas More; Ryan Welty, St. Thomas More
East roster
Name, Pos., Ht., School (Location), College
Shon Abaev, F, 6-7, Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Cincinnati
Darius Acuff Jr., G, 6-2, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Arkansas
Darius Adams, G, 6-5, La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), UConn
Nate Ament, F, 6-9, Highland School (Warrenton, Va.), undecided
Cameron Boozer, F, 6-9, Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.), Duke
Cayden Boozer, G, 6-4, Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.), Duke
Jalen Haralson, F, 6-7, La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), Notre Dame
Isiah Harwell, G, 6-6, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), Houston
Trey McKenney, F, 6-4, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) Michigan
Malachi Moreno, C, 6-10, Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) Kentucky
Braylon Mullins, G, 6-4, Greenfield-Central (Greenfield, Ind.), UConn
Eric Reibe, C, 7-0, Bullis School (Potomac, Md.), UConn
East coach: Herman Harried, Lake Clifton (Baltimore)
Assistant coaches: Darnell Dantzler, Edmonson-Westside (Baltimore); Gary Ervin, Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Lincoln Park
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