The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Lake Roosevelt High School basketball standout Ty Egbert has been nominated as a player at McDonald’s All American Games next month, when McDonald’s sends the best high school players in the country to Chicago.

Final selection will happen this month.

Ricardo Colunga, the manager of the Omak McDonald’s, made the announcement Saturday night at Lake Roosevelt between the boys’ and girls’ basketball games. He presented a framed certificate to Egbert.

The 6-foot, 8-inch senior, already recruited to play for the University of Idaho Vandals, is a key player for the LRHS Raiders, on the varsity since his freshman year.

Some 600 players have been nominated nationwide, from whom a selection process will winnow 24 boys and 24 girls to play at Chicago’s United Center March 28. Thirty-six come from Washington state.

Big names from the past All America Games players include Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and more.

The final team members will be announced on ESPNU Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. during the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Show.

The east-west matchup played before a record crowd of more than 20,000 last year, raising funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The March 28 boys’ game will air on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.