Local McDonald’s owner John Hurd (right) presented Miller Grove’s Alterique Gilbert with his McDonald’s All-American jersey and cap. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Miller Grove senior guard Alterique Gilbert was recently named to the McDonald’s All-American team becoming the sixth basketball player from DeKalb County School District to receive the honor.
The McDonald’s selection follows on the heels of his being named a Jordan Brand All-American and he became just the second DeKalb player to be named to both All-American teams, joining former Miller Grove star Tony Parker who is currently playing at UCLA.
McDonald’s representatives formerly announced Gilbert in a 10 am ceremony in the school’s auditorium today (Monday, Jan. 25).
Gilbert, a University of Connecticut signee, is averaging 20.5 points per game this season to lead the Wolverines in scoring and has 1,882 career points to move past Parker (1,723) into second place on the Miller Grove career points list and fourth overall in DeKalb behind former Miller Grove and Georgia Tech standout Mfon Udofia (2,419).
He is also averaging 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 5.9 assists per game this season. His career averages are 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.2 steals.
“Alterique is the epitome of a student athlete in the way he handles himself on and off the court, in school and in the community,” said Miller Grove Head Coach Sharman White. “It is an honor and pleasure to coach him. He has the best outlook and approach to life in general and to playing the game of basketball.”
Gilbert joins St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons as the only two McDonald’s selections from the state this season out of 750 nominees nationwide. The two will be on opposing teams in the 39th Annual McDonald’s All-American Game on March 30 with Gilbert on the West squad and Simmons on the East in the event televised on ESPN at 8:00 pm from Chicago’s United Center.
Thirty-seven Georgia boys players have been named to the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Team since it started in 1970 an Gilbert is the fifth from DeKalb joining Dion Glover (Cedar Grove/Georgia Tech, 1997), Chris Singleton (Dunwoody/Florida State, 2008), William “Shaq” Goodwin (SW DeKalb/Memphis, 2012) and Tony Parker (Miller Grove/UCLA, 2012).
Gilbert’s selection makes Miller Grove the only school from DeKalb to have two McDonald’s All-Americans.
The other McDonald’s All-American came on the girls’ side as Porsha Phillips (Redan/Georgia, 2006), who is the sister of Cincinnati Reds second baseman and three-time All-Star Brandon Phillips, became the first and only DeKalb County girl selected.