Jabari Parker and Linnae Harper Give Their All at the 2013 McDonald's All American Game

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Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker

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Linnae Harper

Jabari Parker, the senior forward from Simeon Career Academy and Linnae Harper a senior guard at Whitney Young Magnet High School, two star athletes, have achieved sports celebrity here in Chicago, thanks to their lengthy distinguished basketball resumes. But last month, the dynamic duo added even more to their athletic repertoires, as 2013 McDonald's All American Game players.

McDonald's All-Americans are selected from a pool of nearly one thousand of the finest male and female senior high basketball players in the nation. Athletes are chosen by the country's leading coaches and media professionals. Parker and Harper secured two of the 48 coveted slots, making them the only two athletes chosen from Illinois.

What does it take to be a McDonald's All-American besides on-the-court dominance?

"The two key criteria are athletic achievement and then scholastic achievement and also community involvement," said Director of the McDonald's All-American Games, Douglass Freeland. "Before the game or even the practice, all of the All-Americans volunteer at a Ronald McDonald House located in the host city."

Chicago has become the official home of the McDonald's All-American game through 2015 according to a press release.

While volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House on Easter Sunday, Parker spoke about his experience.

"It's been a blessing to see the kids that look up to you and everyone that's here. [I'm] glad to [do] charity work, I know that I am fortunate to be healthy and it just gives me time just to reflect on how grateful I am for where I am right now," the star forward said.

Parker logged 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in the McDonald's All-American game.

In addition, Parker has been awarded the 2012 Morgan Wootten Male Player of the Year Award; the Gatorade Male Basketball Player of the Year award; named Illinois' Mr. Basketball twice; won a gold medal with the 2012 USA Basketball Men's U17 World Championship Team, was instrumental in Simeon winning four straight Division 4A Illinois state championships and of course, being named an 2013 McDonald's All-American.

To put some of those accomplishments in perspective, Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose, too, won Illinois' Mr. Basketball; a state championship at Simeon Career Academy; and was named a McDonald's All-American. To top it all off, Parker accepted an academic scholarship to play basketball at Duke University in Durham, NC next year.

Harper, who also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald stated, "I'm excited to visit the Ronald McDonald House. It is a wonderful charity to be able to see kids and how they live so I am looking forward to it and I am excited!"

Harper is probably one of the brightest female high school basketball stars Chicago has seen since Candace Parker who graduated from Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill, and went on to play for WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.

Harper led Whitney Young to two straight Division 4A Illinois state championships. Her long list of athletic accomplishments include being was one of five finalists of the Naismith High School Player of the Year award -- the only underclassmen to ever be nominated; playing on the 2012 USA Basketball Women's U17 World Championship Team, receiving first team all tournament honors; being named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 3A/4A All-State first team three years in a row; and just recently named a 2013 McDonald's All-American.

Earlier this year, Harper committed to playing for the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.

By Lee Edwards

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