Renton boys basketball to be featured on ESPN

All boys from state picked for All American Game from Renton High

By Haley Ausbun • January 23, 2020 1:30 am

All the male Washington state nominees for the national 2020 McDonald’s All American Game have been unveiled to be from Renton High School.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 900 high school seniors across the country were nominated for the high school basketball showcase by high school coaches, athletic directors, principals and members of McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee.

The Renton seniors, Jamel Jamerson, Keandre Young, Luciano Victo-Castillo and O’Shae Barquet, as well as Terrance Meneese were joined by 11 girls from other Washington schools outside the district. ESPN’s “The Jump” and “SportsCenter” will reveal the final rosters of the top 24 girls and 24 boys on Thursday, Jan. 23. Selections for teams are also made public Jan. 23, after the Renton Reporter’s press deadline.

Renton High School Dean of Students and Basketball Coach Rashaad Powell said all five young men are good student-athletes, citizens and people. They’ve displayed those traits on and off the court, Powell said, which is the foundation of excellent athletes. He also knows two of the students’ parents off the court and grew up with some of the players’ extended family.

“Basketball is great, but I’m more proud of who they’re becoming as young men,” Powell said.”They will undoubtedly go on to do great things in life.”

Scorebook Live reported Tuesday that every nominee from Washington state— done through an online portal by varsity coach, athletic director or principal between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1— met the eligibility requirements of the selection committee.

Powell said it’s great that the Renton boys were the only ones in the state to get this nomination; he said the program often doesn’t get the respect and attention it deserves. The young men who go through it graduate on time, and some continue basketball in college. The kids work hard and are committed. He also said Renton High School’s program doesn’t focus on just one or two star-players but gives all the boys on the team opportunities.

“It’s personally bothersome to me that sometimes our kids don’t get much respect, locally or otherwise. But I take great pride in what they’ve done,” he said.

The McDonald’s All American Games are April 1 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The Boys Game will air at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN that day. The full list of nominees is available here.

More information will be released via the showcase’s social media accounts, on Facebook and Instagram @McDAAG.