2020 has been a strange year without a doubt this includes movement to the McDonald’s All American committee unlike I have seen in the 15 years I have been involved in grassroots basketball. Prior to the additions of the crew from PBR (Joey Simmons, Shane Laflin, Mark Williams and Jason Key) the committed was similar to the supreme court where you had to retire to die to be removed from it. Enter 2020 where there have been additions left and right. No one can argue that these changes were long overdue and very fluid. Here is who we know so far who has gotten a vote and who we could see being next up as the committee continues to expand:
New to the Committee in 2020
Sasha Palmer – FBC United
Ray Caldwell – San Antionio’s Finest
Katie Hensle – Premier Basketball Report
Kim Davis Powell – Essence
Tenisha Benson – Ohio Girls Basketball Report
Donny Woods – World Exposure Basketball – Donny Woods has more than 14,000 twitter followers and quickly built one of the biggest social media bases in girls basketball. Woods, a former Junior College Coach, covers events nationally and internationally.
Bob Corwin – Independent – The fact that Corwin doesn’t have a vote makes you wonder the legitimacy of the committee in general. The most connected person nationally in women’s basketball who does not actually intend to profit off the sport. Corwin has been involved with girls basketball since the 1980’s and should deservingly have a vote.
John McGraw – Insider Exposure – John McGraw has experience at the high school club, and college level stretching back to the early 2000’s. McGraw is currently a national event operator and has one of the largest social media followings in grassroots girls basketball.
Mattie Shocket – Select Events Basketball – The director of Select Events Girls Basketball Mattie Shocket flipped grassroots basketball on its head two years ago launching the Girls UAA which has become one of the top circuits in grassroots basketball. Shocket has relationships with the most influential and power club coaches in the country.
Dickson Jensen – All Iowa Attack – Jensen has built one of the top handful of EYBL programs in the country between two corn fields in Iowa where he trains, develops, and coaches some of the best players in the country. Jensen has become a large scale event operator in the midwest region with his own facility and sees the top players around the country regularly.
Kelly Sopak – Cal Stars – Like Jensen, Sopak runs an elite club team out of Northern California and produced countless high level prospects over the last several years and won a Nike National Championship. Sopak’s influence has run up and down the west coast with unifying the top players in the state of California and surrounding states on the club scene.
Nars Martinez – FBC NWA – One of the newest names on the club basketball scene nationally has recently founded FBC Northwest Alliance where they will compete as an independent club with teams across the Northwest in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho (and whatever other states are out that way). Martinez writes for Prep Girls Hoops, runs his own individual showcases, and is making waves across the country as he attempts to build a national power out of Seattle.
Mason Asher – Prep Girls Hoops – The brains behind Prep Girls Hoops has an extensive background in writing and sports. Prep Girls Hoops is launching a national and regional circuit in 2021 and has hosted camps all over the country. Asher’s strong basketball background makes him a major player in the grassroots game with the strong brand that Prep Girls Hoops has established.
Joe Fenelon – NYG Hoops – Mr. Northeast Basketball specifically New York City – Fenelon has one of the most established Scouting Services in the Northeast along with individual events which have 1000’s of participants each year. Fenelon covers all the major events on the media end is as unbiased as it gets.
Blake Dudonis – Blue Star Media – One of the strongest voices in grassroots and women’s basketball in general has a background with Blue Star Media, coaching with Minnesota Fury, and is currently a Division III Head Coach. Dudonis is in circles where he has the inside knowledge of who the best players in the country are and would be a quality voter.
Nicc Jackson – EGB Hoops – Despite attempts to thwart Jackson’s influence he still runs the best event in the country for junior high girls basketball players. Jackson is connected on the West Coast with adidas and his West Coast United Club. Jackson has identified elite young players at a higher level than just about anyone in the country on a national and regional level. Jackson speaks his mind on social media and would be a great voice to have on the committee.
