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.

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