Mason Plumlee remembers attending the 2005 McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game at the University of Notre Dame.
The 6-foot-11 Duke recruit, who attended Jefferson Elementary, Lakeview Middle School and then played hoops at Warsaw Community High School as a freshman before transferring to Christ School in Arden, N.C., certainly won't be able to forget this year's game at the University of Miami.Plumlee is among the 24 players that were selected to play in this year's game, which will air live on ESPN April 1 at 8 p.m.
"It was awesome," Plumlee said of attending the game in South Bend in 2005, the year former WCHS coach Al Rhodes was selected as a head coach for the contest. "After seeing that game, I knew it was something I really wanted to be a part of, so I made it my goal to play in the McDonald's All-American Game."
Plumlee is the first player from WCHS to earn the honor.
Wawasee graduate Shanna (Zolman) Crossley is the only other player from Kosciusko County to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. She earned MVP honors in the inaugural girls game, which was played at Madison Square Garden in 2002.
"I was excited when I found out I made it," said Plumlee. "It's a great honor to play with and against some of the best players in the country. Between camps and AAU tournaments, I've already played with most of the guys that made it."
The girls contest, which will air live on ESPNU April 1 at 5:30 p.m., will feature two players from the Hoosier State - Skylar Diggins of South Bend Washington and Kelly Faris of Heritage Christian.
Plumlee has led Christ School to a 31-2 record this season and a mark of 94-8 over the past three seasons. The Greenies, who next week will begin the quest for their third-straight state championship, are currently ranked 23rd in the nation by USA Today.
Plumlee averages 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 blocks per game.
Plumlee said he knows people might question his selection when they see he averages just 16 points per game, but is quick to point out the Greenies are a very balanced team.
Christ School's roster also featers South Carolina signee Lakeem Jackson and Harvard signee Dee Geiger.
Plumlee's younger brother, 6-11 sophomore Marshall Plumlee, also plays for the Greenies and has received Division I offers from Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame.
"Some people think you have to score 20 points per game to be an All-American," said Plumlee. "I'm glad the voters looked at other things, or I wouldn't have made it. We've got more than just one person on our team. We've one back-to-back state championships and we haven't had someone average 20 points per game since I've been at Christ School."
Plumlee, who hit a buzzer beater last week to lead Christ School to a 75-73 win over previously nationally ranked Centennial High School, is also among the 20 players selected for the Jordan Brand Classic, an all-star game at Madison Square Garden that will air live on ESPN2 April 18 at 8 p.m.
In addition, Plumlee will participate in the Nike Hoop Summit. He is among just 10 players that will represent the United States against some of the best international players.
