NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- It's been a great week so far for Daniel Horton, who has proved he is one of the best players in the 2002 class. Horton is participating in the McDonald's All American week. But in another way, he has been taking some good natured bantering by his teammates.

Horton, a 6-3, 185 pound point guard from Cedar Hill (TX) High School in Texas, told us he has been taking quite a bit of heat from his fellow McDonald's All Americans this past week. "Yeah, most of the guys who are here have committed to colleges who either made the NCAA or NIT," Horton told us today at McDonald's All American Media Day. "They are ragging me a little. They are asking me where was Michigan this year."

Well, Michigan will be better next year with Horton in the backcourt. "I am going to do whatever the coaches what me to do," Horton said. "I realize we have to improve several things. So I am going to try and help improve whatever the coaches want me to do."

Horton feels most people now know he can score. "In AAU ball I played a different game," Horton said. "We had a lot of guys who could score. But with our high school team we needed to score more. So I did that."

Horton had a tremendous Slam Dunk to the Beach. It's at this tournament most people felt that Horton convinced many McDonald's All American voters that he deserved to be on the team. "I just showed people I could score at that tournament," Horton said. "I convinced a lot of people that I was one of the best players in the country."

He did. Now Horton must help a Michigan team that needs improvement in many departments. "I think I can help them with my defense," Horton said. "They have some good scorers. I watched them about five or six times so I know how they play and how I can help them out next season."

Despite recent articles about more alleged problems in the past for the Michigan basketball program, Horton said he doesn't even concern himself with the reports. "The coaches told me that nothing will happen to the program since what happened was a long time ago and they weren't there," Horton said. "It might be different if I lived in Michigan. But we don't hear about it in Texas."

Horton said he has had a very busy week and an enjoyable one. "We went to the Apollo Theater, the Intrepid ship, and the Ronald McDonald House," Horton said. "It was great seeing the kids smile. It was nice giving something back and seeing why we are here -- to help raise money for kids who don't have it so good."