Georgia High School All-American (Wheeler’s Jelan Kendrick) is snubbed on All-Region basketball team
Jelan Kendrick (McDonalds.com)
Wheeler’s Jelan Kendrick is considered one of the nation’s top high school basketball players. He was the only Georgia player picked for the McDonald’s All-America game, and will be a finalist for several Mr. Georgia basketball honors.
However, in a stunning turn of events, Kendrick was not selected as a first-teamer for All-Region, which was released on Monday.
The 6-foot-7 Kendrick, who has signed with Memphis and averages 16 points, earned second-team honors for Region 6-AAAAA.
What the heck is going on? How can an All-America selection not make All-Region? What are we missing?
“You got me, I don’t know how Jelan can be good enough for All-America but not for first team in the region,” Wheeler coach Doug Lipscomb said on Monday afternoon. ”Jelan is having a good senior year, and we’re first on our side of the subregion.”
“I won’t comment on this any further … you all can figure this out.”
The All-Region team is voted upon by the region’s coaches. What about the All-America honors? They are heavily influenced by recruiting analysts for various recruiting services. Elite players like Kendrick earned their reputation from summer AAU ball, playing head-to-head against many of the nation’s other top-tier prospects.
Kendrick had a couple of known factors against him:
- He was new to the region, transferring from Westlake to Wheeler before his senior year. Perhaps some of the region’s coaches didn’t have the chance to get as familiar with Kendrick as with other veteran players? We’re just saying.
- Region 6-AAAAA is considered perhaps best in the state, and one of the tops in the Southeast. It is loaded with college prospects, and there are only five spots on the first team for All-Region.
What else may have hurt his cause? Lipscomb isn’t saying.
For the record, first-team picks for Region 6-AAAAA are Milton’s Shannon Scott (signed with Ohio State), Walton’s Ryan Harrow (N.C. State), Centennial’s DeVonta’ White (Georgia State), Milton’s Julian Royal (undecided), Centennial’s Vincent Bailey (Lincoln Memorial University). Harrow and White were named co-Region Players of the Year.
What are your thoughts about Jelan being left off first team? What do you think about Kendrick being Georgia’s lone selection for the McDonald’s game?
Is he’s the state’s No. 1 high school basketball player? If not, who is? Please state your case below.
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127 comments Add your comment
Biff Tannen
February 15th, 2010
9:58 pm
All the coaches in that region are butt-heads. Don’t worry about it Jelan. My Gray’s Sports Almanac has your Tiger team going all the way next year.
SnowMan
February 15th, 2010
10:12 pm
The truth be known, Coach Lip didn’t show up for the region meeting to nominate any of his kids. Sure, it gets political at times, but you have to be there to get into the politics! If you want your kids to be on the list, go fight for them.
fool named geogia basketball
February 15th, 2010
10:14 pm
georgia basketball
February 15th, 2010
8:35 pm
He has been out performed by others. Hey Doug, just put on your big boys pants and play basketball
Any facts to back that up, or are you just an idiot?
wheelerfan
February 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
in the end i dont think coach lipscomb even cares, hes more focused on winning a 6th state title this year than having his player being represented, as he should be. this is a team game so it is kind of foolish to be worrying about the prestige of 1 player.
fool named geogia basketball
February 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
RE: Homeboy
The fact that he is deserting his home state should disqualify him and those like him from any honors. Let him receive his recognition and cash from Memphis probationers.
Homeboy is a knuckle headed fool.
BigTimeTECHFan is a fool.
February 15th, 2010
10:17 pm
BigTimeTECHFan
February 15th, 2010
3:39 pm
Milton guys are better, he may be top Senior but who’s to say the juniors are not better.
BigTimeTECHFan is a uninformed idiot. If he had signed with GT you would be pi$$ing in your pants. You worthless loser.
REDNECKs IN GA
February 15th, 2010
10:19 pm
Dude makes McDonald’s All American and the rednecks in Milton get two on All Region, but not a McDonald’s All American. HAHA, makes these coach’s look like fools. Wonder which it is.
wheelerfan
February 15th, 2010
10:21 pm
well they didnt make mcdonalds all americans because they are juniors, not because they werent good enough
SnowMan
February 15th, 2010
10:21 pm
Wheelerfan, I agree with you. All of the individual stuff means nothing if you don’t win it all. I just wished more people understood that the coaches have to nominate the kids and then vote on all of the nominations.
wheelerfan
February 15th, 2010
10:28 pm
would anyone have a milton/campbell score?
SnowMan
February 15th, 2010
10:30 pm
What was the final of the Wheeler-Walton game?
Fin
February 15th, 2010
10:32 pm
@snowman…I believe the final was 95-84 or 94-85 Wheeler over Walton
SnowMan
February 15th, 2010
10:34 pm
Thanks, what about the Milton-Campbell game?
jj
February 15th, 2010
10:36 pm
I know Wheeler and the coach are disappointed since they only recruit all state & region players each year. Maybe the players need to transfer or sign before their senior year. The coaches in the region know the best players.
Ga Fan
February 15th, 2010
10:44 pm
I heard milton won by around 20 over Campbell
Home boy
February 15th, 2010
10:45 pm
Ksdjd—-what ever No He should no have went to Georgia or Georgia State He should have gone to Georgia or Georgia State. I agree with you that they are honest programs. FOOL NAMED —– yOU ARE THE ONE CALLING YOURSELF A FOOL I don’t know you but i will not argue with you since you know yourself better than I do. If you make a statement that I disagree with I will not attack you personnaly but just say that i don’t with you. Peace brother.
Is JJ really that stupid?
February 15th, 2010
10:45 pm
The coaches in the region know the best players.
Then why aren’t two of the ‘all region’ players going to play for major Div I programs?
Then why are you an idiot?
Fan
February 15th, 2010
10:48 pm
I’ve seen all those kids play this year and watched Wheeler whip Walton again tonight. If I’m picking 5, I can guarantee you Kendrick is on my team. I’ll look forward to watching him play at Memphis next year.
wheeler fan said what?
February 15th, 2010
10:49 pm
wheelerfan
February 15th, 2010
10:21 pm
well they didnt make mcdonalds all americans because they are juniors, not because they werent good enough
well lets just see if they make McDonalds All Americans next year. Don’t hold your breath. Mc AA are chosen based on performances against elite level AAU teams. Not against regional rednecks.
What's Wrong With Wheeler
February 15th, 2010
11:15 pm
Milton 82 Campbell 61 Final
What's Wrong With Wheeler
February 15th, 2010
11:29 pm
The pro-Wheeler posters above neglect to mention that, in the Wildcat’s narrow home victory over Milton, one of Milton’s key starters (Evan Nolte) sat out the game with an injury. Did it affect the outcome? Maybe, probably – who knows? But failure to recognize that fact diminishes their credibility even further. Standard behavior from the Wheeler throng, whose sense of annual hoops entitlement is matched only by their boorish behavior at the actual games.
Kendrick may be good/great, but none of the other five All Region players is any less deserving – no matter how their teams fared against those Titans of Transfer.
John Calepari
February 15th, 2010
11:32 pm
I did this to Jelan so he would join me at another fine win at any cost basketball program- the university of kentucky. (hey Jelan- look for that fed x package tomorrow)
Bill
February 15th, 2010
11:32 pm
Snowman is right. The Coach has to stand up for his players and if he didn’t attend the meeting then its his fault the kid didn’t get any support. Good Coaches have to fight to get their kid picked. Play the game so to speak.
the Coach has to stand up fr\or his players
WheelerFan #2
February 15th, 2010
11:47 pm
whats wrong- wheeler lost a key starter last year and still won the state title, so quit crying
Crazy Hoops
February 15th, 2010
11:55 pm
SnowMan: I can believe what you said. Doug probably just naturally assumed that he he made the McDonald’s team that it was a slam dunk he was all-region. He probably didn’t show up for something as small as the all-region meeting. The McDonald’s team is picked during the summer while the players are making their rounds on the AAU circuit. Only about two slots are remaining for the season for the players on the bubble.
Fin
February 16th, 2010
12:04 am
Does Milton have any regular season games remaining or is everyone done now?
Fin
February 16th, 2010
12:17 am
People KILL me about the crying about transfers, blah blah blah. Would you send your kid to a better school to get a better education? No one cries about that…but when it comes to sports, it’s all this crying about it. If you feel your child is good enough, move said child into a district and let said child play on a great team that will give the child exposure to try to get a college scholorship.
Milton fan
February 16th, 2010
12:49 am
Milton is baaaaack. Royal was a beast. Parker and Scott had their way also. And, milton played without Nolte, who wa sick and didn’t make the trip. OK, now its for all the marbles.
Fin
February 16th, 2010
1:57 am
Big win for Milton tonight. Does that give y’all the region or did Wheeler win it?
bodog
February 16th, 2010
2:12 am
THE KID SHOULD BE PLAYER OF YEAR FOR ENIRE STATE……HE’S THAT GOOD……………!
dawgma
February 16th, 2010
6:49 am
Hey – maybe a little payback for jumping schoools his senior year JUST to get a little more pub.
School jumping is a cronic problem in GA and it makes me laugh to see a kid pay a small price for screwing over his team for the benefit of himself.
A FAN
February 16th, 2010
8:08 am
Jalen,Marcus McNeal didn’t play and didn’t start the GA all star football game that played The Fla. ALL Stars 5 PLAYERS WAS SLECTED ahead of him where are they MARCUS IS ALL PRO for 3 years and counting!
STEINER
February 16th, 2010
8:08 am
Hey, when these good team lose a good one, they just go and recruit another good one to take his place..over and over…. this coach is a pretty good coach, but I can take these types of players and win basketball games….The private schools in the ghsa started this recruiting…Although it is widely known that this recruiting takes place, the ghsa looked the other way and allowed it to happen…..When nothing was done to the private schools for recruiting, then the public schools said, “if there are no consequences for recruiting, then we’ll go recruit us some too”. Now, that’s about all you have….Coaching records and state titles don’t mean what they once did, because many of the schools who are winning these titles are cheating by recruiting other teams players….The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer…..
Eagle 1
February 16th, 2010
9:20 am
Wow…thats crazy Jelan shoud not have been left off all region. hes a great player!!!!It goes to show you that someway the real good players in the state dont get recognize at all.
Theres noway players like Rod Rucker of Elbert Co, Rion Brown of Liberty Co,Jershon Cobb of Columbia,Javon Mckay of Dunwoody just to name a few… shouldnt have as much publicity locally and nationally than alot of these kids that play for big AAU organizations across the country.
Taylor Wooten
February 16th, 2010
9:24 am
Why did he transfer to Wheeler….his senior year? Feel bad for his ex-team and teammates. Seems to be yet another example of high school basketball….Atlanta style.
Paddy
February 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Wheelerfan……arn’t you putting the cart before the horse. No NBA scout is going to care if he is not all-region. NBA scout???? The guy has not played one minute in college yet. The chances of any college player playing in the NBA is like your chances of winning the Irish Sweepsteaks. Lets back off the NBA hype for now. WOW!
Unknown
February 16th, 2010
10:00 am
From what I have seen and heard, he is a bad teammate. Many people in the public do not know how bad of a teammate he can be. Do your research and you will know why he was left off. Yes he has talent, but his attitude is what rub people the wrong way.
Unknown
February 16th, 2010
10:11 am
Oh, please research why Mr. kendrick has transfered each year. A coach would rather lose than have him on there team. He has been a knuckle head at Wheeler too. Did a little deeper and you will get the same result. He is not a good teammate.
Chris Jackson
February 16th, 2010
10:11 am
It is not about him being picked, it is about how you play the game. This transfering schools in Georgia needs to be stopped. The so called Great Coaches need to go back to basics and learn how to coach. They let another coach develop a kid and then thay take them as transfers and win with them. This not teaching these kids about real life, and sticking with what you start. Come on Georgia lets get with it and stop the AAU from taking over good Georgia basketball.
W/E
February 16th, 2010
10:38 am
Most coaches who have transfers now were plenty successful before they started getting transfers. The reason kids transfer is to win and to gain national exposure (ie getting a shot at a free college education). Kendrick wanted to win and he knew that he and Westlake weren’t working out- so he transfers to Wheeler. And unknown, you have no clue what you’re talking about because everyone close to the situation has been more than satisfied with how Jelan has conducted himself at Wheeler. And it’s not like Lipscomb needs a player so badly that he would sacrifice his team and his integrity to get the player. He’s booted plenty of problem-children before (this includes star-players) and if Kendrick was really a problem at Wheeler, he would’ve been shown the door by now.
nuff said
February 16th, 2010
11:13 am
Summary: Jelan is a McDonald’s All American. He plays at Wheeler. Others play at Milton, Walton, …etc. They are not McDonald’s All American’s.
End of Summary.
68Tiger
February 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
This speaks more about the ignorance of the coaches than the ability of the Jelan.
Say it Aint So
February 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
By the way, where can the complete list of 6AAAAA All Region Team be found?
Milton fan
February 16th, 2010
1:25 pm
Milton is done now Fin. Everything is set. I think Milton plays Campbel or Walton in Region. Winner gets in, loser has a long summer.
Garnett
February 16th, 2010
1:29 pm
Let me see – being a McDonalds All American or a member of an apparently political All Region team. I’m pretty sure Jelan will get over this one.
Truth4Westlake
February 16th, 2010
1:42 pm
I couldnt wait to get in on this topic. Maybe he didnt get into the All Region team becasue of his performance at Campbell where he refused to warm-up with his teammates at halftime. Or maybe its the two games he’s been kicked out this year. Missing more than 4 games this season. McDonald All-American game is nothing but an AAU showcase and hype thats why hes there. But maybe its becasue those two guys at Milton, Ryan Harrow, and the guys from Centennial mean more to there team and have had better seasons. The Milton guys definetly have. Ryan Harrow defiently have so i defiently see why he didnt. He missed 2-3 games in the region becasue hes been ejected from games. Thats unheard of. Theres a reason why the #2 SF in the nation leaves your school and your still #1 in the state. He’s dispensable. JK is a great player if he doesnt improve his character and attitude hes going to be a loss talent. I never wish anything bad on a kid but hes letting his attitude affect his altitude.
Truth4Westlake
February 16th, 2010
1:45 pm
Eagle1 and 2 good luck in your region and state playoffs. Columbia all the way until you meet my de facto family in South Atlanta. The head coach came from WestlakeHS thats why i support them. But i wish you the best!!!!
Eagle 1
February 16th, 2010
1:50 pm
Thanks Truth4!!!!
BBall Coach
February 16th, 2010
3:30 pm
I have been looking at talent at the high school and college level for 20 years. All I can say is Jelan talent is way overrated. You can watch warmups and you just know he doesn’t fit in well with his teammates. He and the point guard (who is a much better player) don’t even get along. That is the first issue, second he has no left hand and his jump shot is less than average. In college 6′6 swingmen are a dime a dozen. As for the McDonald’s All-American Team, that team is picked before the season even starts. They leave open a couple of spots with potential break out players. I have watched him play twice this year and he’s not even the best player on his team. Wheeler has a really good pipeline of ball players but, Jelan is not worthy of being considered one of the best in the country. Politics left him off the All-Region Team and Politics got him on the McDonald’s All American Team.
Memphis Tiger fan
February 16th, 2010
4:07 pm
BBall Coach said “As for the McDonald’s All-American Team, that team is picked before the season even starts.”
Question: Where did you hear that? I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. But for the sake of argument lets say that it is the case. Does that mean that Jelan was McDonald’s All-American quality just before the start of the season with his game falling to below Regional Team quality since? Just trying to understand what you mean.