In San Diego last year, the West squad used a fast paced style of play led by Kevin Durant and Chase Budinger to outscore the East 112-94 in the McDonald's All-American Game.
This year in Louisville, O.J. Mayo will try to lead the East to an upset win over what looks to be a stronger West squad.
West team
The West is the favorite to repeat as winners of the McDonald's All-American. The team has a roster loaded with the top five prospects in the Rivals150. Don't be surprised to see the top point guard Derrick Rose and top shooting guard Eric Gordon team up in the backcourt like they did last July when the took the summer circuit by storm. Likely starters at forward are Michael Beasley and Kyle Singler, and Kevin Love is expected to start at center.
The West also has two other top-10 prospects in backcourt players Jerryd Bayless and James Harden. Steady point guard Jai Lucas is also at the West squad's disposal.
James Anderson and Taylor King provide support at the forward position. Blake Griffin and Cole Aldrich provide both power and length inside for the West.
East team
As one of only two top-10 prospects on the roster, O.J. Mayo is the clear leader of the East squad. It is a little more difficult to pin down an expected starting line up for the East, but the backcourt will likely feature Mayo and Austin Freeman. A front line of Donte Green, Patrick Patterson and Kosta Koufos makes sense.
Nick Calathes, Jonny Flynn, Nolan Smith and Chris Wright are guards who can both run the point and also put up big scoring numbers.
Corey Stokes provides a shooter with size for the East to match King of the West. J.J. Hickson and Gani Lawal are athletic and energetic interior players.
Notable omissions
There are several highly ranked players, including four in our top 20, who were not named to either team. Those prospects are: No. 8-ranked DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M), No. 17 Anthony Randolph (LSU), No. 19 Jamelle Horne (Arizona), No. 20 Solomon Alabi (Florida State), No. 21 Chandler Parsons (Florida), No. 23 Darquavis Tucker (DePaul), No. 24 Herb Pope (New Mexico State), No. 25 Austin Daye (Gonzaga)
College representation
The Atlantic Coast Conference – and Duke specifically – is well-represented. The ACC tied with the Big East in having five prospects named to the all-star teams. Big 12 and Pac-10 schools are represented by four players apiece. Two McDonald's players are heading to Big Ten schools, and the SEC and Conference USA each have one representative. Two of the prospects are still undecided and have yet to make their college choices.
Here are the breakdowns by college choice and by state:
By school: Duke-3, Georgetown-2, Syracuse-2, Undecided-2, Arizona-1, Arizona State-1, Georgia Tech-1, Florida-1, Indiana-1, Kansas-1, Kansas State-1, Memphis-1, NC State-1, Ohio State-1, Oklahoma-1, Oklahoma State-1, UCLA-1, USC-1, Villanova-1.
By State: California - 2, Georgia - 2, Maryland - 2, Oregon - 2, West Virginia - 2, Arizona - 1, Arkansas - 1, Washington, D.C. - 1, Florida - 1, Illinois - 1, Indiana - 1, Massachusetts - 1, Minnesota - 1, New Jersey - 1, New York - 1, Ohio - 1, Oklahoma - 1, Texas - 1, Virginia – 1.