Eighteen New York Tri-State Area Student-Athletes Nominated for 2012 McDonald's All American® High School Basketball Games

ROSELAND, N.J., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, McDonald's^® announced the list of players nominated for the 2012 McDonald's All American^® Games. Of the 600 nominees selected by high school coaches, athletic directors, principles and members of the McDonald's All American Games Selection Committee, eighteen players hail from New York Tri-State – five male and thirteen female players. The local players nominated for the 2012 Games include:

The New York Tri-State 2012 McDonald's All American Boys High School Basketball Team nominees include:

Bronx, NY
- Nkereuwen Okoro, St. Raymond High School

Edison, NJ
- Roger M. Kilgore III, Bishop George Ahr High School

Jersey City, NJ
- Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony's High School

Plainfield, NJ
- Justin Sears, Plainfield NJ High School

Trumbull, CT
- Timajh Parker, St. Joseph High School

The New York Tri-State 2008 McDonald's All American Girls High School Basketball Team nominees include:

Annandale, NJ
- Jessica Pellechio, North Hunterdon HS

Belmar, NJ
- Samantha Clark, St. Rose High School

Burlington, NJ
- Sandra Udogbi-Ofog, Life Center Academy

Chatham, NJ
- Amanda Berntsen, Chatham High School

Edison, NJ
- Elizabeth Sharlow, Bishop George Ahr High school

Lodi, NJ
- Kelcey Castro, Immaculate Conception High School

Manasquan, NJ
- Michaela Mabrey, Manasquan High School
- Jasmine McCall, Manalapan High School

Newark, NJ
- Brittney Sykes, University High School

New Haven, CT
- Bria Holmes, James E. Hillhouse High School

New York, NY
- Brianna Butler, Nazareth Regional High School
- Darius Faulk, Nazareth Regional High School

Piscataway, NJ
- Danaejah Grant

The complete list of 2012 McDonald's All American Games nominees is available at www.mcdaag.com. The final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls selected to play in the 2012 Games will be announced during the McDonald's All American Games Selection Show on ESPNU, airing February 9 at 5 p.m. ET.

"We are proud to have a great group of talented basketball players within the New York Tri-State Area that are bestowed with this wonderful achievement," said Tony Scari, president of the New York Tri-State Area Owners and Operators Association. "These young men and women signify what it means to be a student-athlete by contributing in their community, school and on the court.  We look forward to following these talented athletes closely as they embark on what we're confident will be a very successful journey."   

The 35th annual Boys Game will tip-off on Wednesday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. CT from Chicago's United Center and will be broadcast on ESPN.  Immediately preceding the Boys Game will be the 11th annual McDonald's All American Girls Game which tips-off at 6 p.m. CT and will broadcast live on ESPNU. Information regarding tickets for the 2012 McDonald's All American Games is available at Ticketmaster.

Proceeds from the Games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI). To date, millions of dollars have been donated to RMHC Chapters from proceeds generated by McDonald's All American Games.

ABOUT McDONALD'S NEW YORK TRI-STATE RESTAURANTS:   
McDonald's is one of the world's best-known brands and is a global leader in food service. There are more than 600 McDonald's restaurants, owned by over 100 franchisees, located throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Tri-State. Visit www.mcdonaldsnymetro.com or follow us on Twitter @McDNYTriState for information about other McDonald's area programs.

SOURCE McDonald's New York Tri-State Restaurants