This year’s edition of the McDonald’s All-American basketball games will once again have a distinctively familiar feel.
A year after Bronny James followed in his father LeBron’s footsteps by being selected for the event — considered a top honor for high school students — this week both teenage daughters of retired NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal and Zach Randolph selected.
Me’Arah O’Neal, a 6-foot-1 guard from Episcopal High School in Texas, and Mackenly Randolph, a 6-foot-2 forward from Sierra Canyon in California, were both named to the West team for the girls’ game .
Coincidentally, Randolph played at the same high school Bronny attended in the Los Angeles area before committing to play at USC this season.
In another coincidence, Bronny, Me’Arah and Mackenly’s fathers all won MVP honors at the annual competition.
Shaquille O’Neal is seen next to his daughter, Me’Arah O’Neal, a 6-foot-2 guard from Episcopal High School in Texas. She is already committed to playing her college ball in Florida
Mackenly Randolph, Zach’s daughter, is still unsure where she will play in college
Shaq’s daughter Me’Arah has already committed to play for the Florida Gators
Mackenly Randolph (left) follows in the footsteps of her father, Zach (right)
And they aren’t the only second-generation ballers named to the 2023-2024 McDonald’s All-American teams.
Dylan Harper, son of former Cleveland Cavaliers star Ron, was also selected to the team. He is currently committed to Rutgers, where his older brother, Ron Jr., previously played.
Meanwhile, Me’Arah is committed to playing at Florida, while Mackenly is still considering several schools, including Michigan State, where her father played for a season before being drafted to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Cooper Flagg was also selected for the game. The nation’s top recruit is committed to Duke
Mackenly not only played at the same school as LeBron’s son, but was also a former teammate of Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, at the NBA legend’s Mamba Academy. The two girls formed a fast friendship prior to the helicopter crash that claimed Gianna’s life, as well as those of Kobe, the pilot and six others, including Team Mamba members Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester.
“She was super nice,” MacKenly said of Gigi in a 2021 interview with The New York Timesand later added that “three of my best friends were here one day and the next day they were gone.”
‘It was hard for my baby, it still is, but I’m proud of her. She’s 15, but she’s strong, man,” Zach Randolph said of Mackenly, who is now 17.
But perhaps the biggest name to be included in this year’s McDonald’s All-American game is boys player Cooper Flagg, a Maine native and top recruit who is now committed to Duke.
BOYS WEST TEAM
- Airy Bailey (F): McEachern High School (Georgia), Rutgers
- Flory Bidunga (C): Kokomo High School (Indiana), Kansas
- Carter Bryant (F): Centennial High School (California), Arizona
- Vazoumana Diallo (G): productive preparation from Napa Christian (California), Washington
- Valdez Edgecombe, Jr. (D): Long Island Lutheran High School (NY), Baylor
- Donavan Freeman (F): IMG Academy (Florida), Syracuse
- Dylan Harper (D): Don Bosco Preparatory High School (NJ), Rutgers
- Richard Johnson (D): Link Academy (Missouri), Texas
- Karter Knox (D): Overtime Elite Academy (Georgia), not committed
- Trent Perry (D): Harvard-Westlake School (California), Southern California
- Derrion Reid (F): productive preparation from Napa Christian (California), Alabama
- Aiden Sherrell (C): Productive prep from Napa Christian (California), Alabama
Head Coach Boys West: Tommy Brakel, North Crowley High School (Texas)
Boys West Asst. Coach: James Manthe, North Crowley High School (Texas); Ethan Anderson, North Crowley High School (Texas)
BOYS EAST TEAM
- Jalil Bethea (G): Archbishop Wood High School (Pennsylvania), Miami (Fla.)
- John Bol (C): Overtime Elite Academy (Georgia), Ole Miss
- Isaiah Evans (F): North Mecklenburg High School (NC), Duke
- Cooper Flagg (F): Montverde Academy (Florida), Duke
- Johnuel Fland (D): Archbishop Stepinac High School (NY), Kentucky
- Ian Jackson (F): Our Savior Lutheran School (NY), North Carolina
- Liam McNeeley (F): Montverde Academy (Florida), Indiana
- Tahaad Pettiford (D): Hudson Catholic Regional High School (NJ), Auburn
- Drake Powell (D): Northwood High School (NC), North Carolina
- Jayden Quaintance (F): Word of God Christian Academy (NC), Kentucky
- Derik Queen (C): Montverde Academy (Florida), not committed
- Bryson Tucker (F): Bishop O’Connell High School (Virginia), uncommitted
Boys East Head Coach: Sharman White, Pace Academy (Georgia)
Boys East Asst. Coach: Johnathan Robinson, Pace Academy (Georgia); James Hartry, Tucker High School (Georgia)
GIRLS WEST TEAM
- Imari Berry (G): Clarksville High School (Tennessee), Clemson
- Jaloni Cambridge (D): Montverde Academy (Florida), Ohio State
- Justice Carlton (F): Seven Lakes High School (Texas), Texas,
- Morgan Cheli (D): Archbishop Mitty High School (California), UConn
- Avery Howell (D): Boise High School (Idaho), Southern California
- Jordan Lee (W): Saint Mary’s High School (California), Texas
- Alivia McGill (D): Hopkins High School (Minnesota), Florida
- Me’Arah O’Neal (C): Episcopal High School (Texas), Florida
- Mackenly Randolph (F): Sierra Canyon School (California), not recorded
- Arianna Roberson (F): Clark High School (Texas), Duke
- Kennedy Smith (W): Etiwanda High School (California), Southern California
- Allie Ziebell (D): Neenah High School (Wisconsin), UConn
Girls West Head Coach: Ann Fritz, Blue Valley North High School (Kansas)
Girls West Asst. Coach: Mike Hilbert, Blue Valley North High School (Kansas); Mark Spigarelli, Blue Springs High School (Missouri)
GIRLS EAST TEAM
- Mikayla Blakes (D): Rutgers Preparatory School (NJ), Vanderbilt
- Kendall Dudley (D): Sidwell Friends School (Washington DC), UCLA
- Joyce Edwards (F): Camden High School (SC), South Carolina
- Kayleigh Heckel (D): Long Island Lutheran High School (NY), Southern California
- Zamareya Jones (D): North Pitt High School (NC), NC State
- Kateryna Koval (C): Long Island Lutheran High School (NY), Notre Dame
- Madisen McDaniel (D): Bishop McNamara High School (Maryland), South Carolina
- Olivia Olson (D): Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Minnesota, Michigan
- Zania Socka-Nguemen (F): Sidwell Friends School (Washington DC), UCLA
- Sarah Strong (F): Grace Christian School (NC), not recorded
- Syla Swords (W): Long Island Lutheran High School (NY), Michigan
- Berry Wallace (W): Pickerington High School Central (Ohio), Illinois
East Girls Head Coach: Fran Burbidge, Westtown School (Pennsylvania)
Girls East Asst. Coach: Fanny Burbidge, Springfield High School (Pennsylvania); Kylynn McNichol, Springfield High School (Pennsylvania)
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