TWO BEAVER COUNTRY DAY ATHLETES NOMINATED FOR 2014 McDONALD’S ALL AMERICAN® GAMES Local Student-Athletes in the Running to Play in Prestigious High School Basketball Event in Chicago

Boston, MA (January 7, 2014) – McDonald’s® has announced its list of 984 prep seniors who have been nominated to play in the 2014 McDonald’s All American Games, including Beaver Country Day’s Jeff Spellman and Jacquil Taylor. This year’s list boasts players from 44 states and the District of Columbia who have been selected by high school coaches, athletic directors, principals and members of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee. Nine players hail from Massachusetts – including 2 athletes who attend preparatory schools in New Hampshire. The other local players nominated for the 2014 Games include:

·         Alec Brennan, Milton Academy, Milton

·         Matt Cimino, Worcester Academy, Worcester

·         Kaleb Joseph, Cushing Academy, Ashburnham

·         Tyler Nelson, Central Catholic High School, Lawrence

·         Malik James, Brighton High School, Brighton

·         Abdul-Malik Abu , Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH                                     (originally from Boston, MA)

·         Jared Terrell, Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NH                                              (originally from Weymouth, MA)

A complete list of 2014 McDonald’s All American Games Nominees is available at www.mcdaag.com. The final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls who will be selected to play in the 2014 Games will be announced during the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Show on ESPNU on January 29 at 6:00 p.m. ET. 

“Massachusetts has a history of elite basketball talent and the nomination of 9 local players signifies the hard work and dedication of our young student-athletes. They contribute to their schools, the community and the game,” said Nicole DiNoia, Communications Manager for McDonald’s Boston Region. “The McDonald’s All American Games have long been the top showcase of national basketball talent, and it’s an honor to have players from our city under consideration to be selected.”

The 37th Annual Boys Game will tip-off on Wednesday, April 2 at 9:30 p.m. ET from Chicago’s United Center and will be broadcast on ESPN. The 13th Annual Girls Game will precede the Boys Game, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPNU. Information regarding tickets for the 2014 McDonald’s All American Games is available at Ticketmaster. Tickets for the 2014 Games go on sale Saturday, January 11 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Tickets start as low as $10 and include free parking. There is also the popular family four-pack option which includes four tickets, four soft drinks and four hot dogs – all for $53.

Net proceeds from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®). The Games have raised more than $10 million for RMHC since its inception in 1978.

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@McDAAG

Follow the McDonald’s All American Games Twitter handle, @McDAAG, to receive up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the 2014 Games; including key announcements, local player/coach recognitions, fan giveaways and historical Games facts and figures.

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About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), an independent non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 58 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs provide access to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC), or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

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