Today seniors RJ Barrett and Christyn Williams were named the 2018
Morgan Wootten Players of the Year. McDonald’s established the
award in 1997 to pay tribute to Wootten’s accomplished teaching and
coaching career which landed him in the Basketball Hall of Fame in
2000. The two standout high school basketball stars and members of
the McDonald’s All American Games 2018 class can now add another
honor to their long list of accomplishments.
Barrett of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, and Williams
of Central Arkansas Christian School in North Little Rock,
Arkansas, earned the award by displaying outstanding character,
showing leadership and embodying the values of a student
athlete.
“RJ and Christyn join a long list of previous Player of the Year
winners that have displayed drive, commitment and dedication to
achieve their goals in both academics and athletics,” said Wootten.
“In a short period of time they have already made a tremendous
impact on their communities and teammates, and I’m confident
they’ll continue making a difference on the game.”
A Basketball Buddy with Heart and Smarts At 6
feet, 7 inches tall, Barrett is ranked by ESPN as the top small
forward in the nation and top overall player. He joins previous
Morgan Wootten honorees including Lonzo Ball (2016), Ben Simmons
(2015), Jabari Parker (2013), Kevin Love (2007), LeBron James
(2003), Jay Williams (1999) and Shane Battier (1997).
Barrett has also earned accolades like the MVP distinction at
the Basketball Without Borders Game during the NBA All-Star Weekend
in New Orleans in 2017 and helped lead Canada’s under-19 squad to a
semifinal win over the U.S. at the FIBA Basketball World Cup last
year. Barrett signed a letter of intent to play basketball this
fall at Duke University.
Barrett has proven his dedication to academics, displaying
excellence across his challenging course load. Outside the
classroom, he is an active member of the Basketball Buddies program
at Montverde Academy, where he acts as a mentor and helps kids find
proper basketball technique, officiates their games and encourages
them to balance sports with school.
The Dean at Montverde Academy describes Barrett as a genuine
student who brings brilliance and heart to everything he does. “I
am immediately drawn to his genuine smile, the warmth that he has
for others, and his ability to determine and recognize the right
course of action,” Dean David Bernatavitz remarks in a nomination
letter.
Barrett says the honor of receiving the Morgan Wootten Player of
the Year award is a testament to the support he’s received from his
family, coaches and teammates.
“I’m honored to be selected as the 2018 Morgan Wootten Player of
the Year. I’m very grateful to those that voted for me to join the
group of special athletes that have won this award in the past. I
want to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the
Montverde community that have helped me grow as an athlete, student
and person.”
A Medal-Winning Leader Who Gives BackAt 5 feet,
11 inches tall, Williams is currently the top guard in the country
as ranked by ESPN. She joins previous award recipients that include
Katie Lou Samuelson (2015), Breanna Stewart (2012), Elena Delle
Donne (2008), Maya Moore (2007) and Candace Parker (2004).
Williams’ accomplishments on the court stem far and wide. She is
a member of the silver-winning 2017 USA under-19 team and was named
Miss Basketball in Arkansas her junior year. Williams will join the
powerhouse women’s team at the University of Connecticut next
year.
Williams works just as hard in the classroom as she does on the
court, earning a 3.48 GPA while also giving back to her community.
She participates in her school’s Mustang Missions, a charitable
program providing support and services for underprivileged
families, and works at a summer camp serving girls from the third
grade and up.
“Christyn provides outstanding leadership and a wonderful
example to her teammates, schoolmates and even opposing players,”
said Steven Quattlebaum, Williams’ basketball coach.
Williams describes earning the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year
award as a prestigious honor.
"To be chosen as a McDonald’s All American is a dream come true.
Playing as an all American and also receiving the Morgan Wooten
Award is an indescribable feeling. I know any one of the 24 players
selected could have received this award and I am truly humbled and
grateful to be a recipient.”
Next Up for the Two Honorees
Barrett and Williams will receive their Morgan Wootten Player of
the Year awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 27 in Atlanta.
Shortly after, these two athletes will join 46 other high school
standouts at the McDonald’s All American Games on Wednesday, March
28, at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Girls game tips off at 5 p.m.
EST, followed by the Boys game at 7 p.m. EST.
Tickets for the 2018 McDonald’s All American Games are on sale
via Ticketmaster or the Philips Arena box office. Ticket prices
start at $10.
This year’s All American Games will benefit Atlanta Ronald
McDonald House Charities, which has served more than 50,000
families since 1979. Proceeds will support the operations of
Atlanta’s two Ronald McDonald Houses, the Ronald McDonald Family
Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
McDonald’s has continued to raise the bar by investing in the
future of communities around the globe. In addition to the All
American Games, McDonald’s provides scholarships, hosts leadership
summits and education workshops in the communities it serves and
remains committed to continuing to extend service to the world
outside of its restaurants. For more information about the
McDonald’s All American Games, or game week activities in Atlanta,
like the POWERADE® Jam Fest, please visit www.mcdaag.com and follow
@McDAAG.
Proud sponsors of the 2018 McDonald’s All American Games include
adidas, American Family Insurance, Coca-Cola®, Mercedes-Benz,
POWERADE® and Sprite®.
About Coach Morgan Wootten During his 43-year
career as head basketball coach at DeMatha High School in
Hyattsville, Md., Morgan Wootten earned a reputation for being an
excellent basketball coach and mentor. In addition to his five
national high school championship titles and 33 conference
championships, Wootten had the unique distinction of having every
DeMatha senior player receive a four-year college scholarship
during his final 30 years of coaching. Now retired, Wootten was the
first basketball coach at any level to reach 1,200 wins. He is the
author of numerous books and is a famed basketball speaker and
mentor. Coach Wootten has served as head of the selection committee
for the McDonald’s All American Games since its inception in
1977.
About McDonald’s USA
McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with
quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day.
Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are
independently owned and operated by businessmen and women.
Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500
participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more
information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter
@McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities®Ronald
McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3)
corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs that
directly improve the health and well-being of children and
their families. Through its global network of nearly 290 Chapters
in more than 64 countries and regions, and its three core
programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, the Ronald
McDonald Family Room® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile,
RMHC helps families with sick children stay together, and
close to the medical care their child needs at leading hospitals
worldwide. RMHC programs not only provide access to quality
health care, they enable family-centered care ensuring
families are fully supported and actively involved in their
children’s care. For more information, visit rmhc.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Steven
Hunter, McDonald’s USAsteven.hunter@us.mcd.com 317-910-2223
Kate Mulcahey,
Golin kmulcahey@golin.com 312-729-4332
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