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
WheelerFan #2
February 16th, 2010
4:22 pm
BBall Coach said “As for the McDonald’s All-American Team, that team is picked before the season even starts.”
that probably is true in some regard, but all that means was jelan was dominating AAU and summer camps, and got recognized and ranked where he is based on talent and what he did in summer events vs other top players in the country…the jealousy on this board of wheeler is just astounding…westlake just cant live with the fact that players transfer, they want to whine “well we are #1″ without jelan, blah blah, i feel like i’m in a nursery with how much crying and whining happens on this blog between westlake fans and devil lover…i love the westlake bloggers who claim to have such inside info on jelan and his life…im willing to be not one poster here actually knows that kid or the westlake coach, mostly because i doubt that coach would give a rats *** to talk with some blogger about intimate details of his basketball team, so please just stop with this nonsense, the kid is 18, just shut up and leave your moms basement at least once a day
boyd morrow
February 16th, 2010
4:58 pm
ok ok this kid an ok player….from what ive seen and read about this kid…he’s in a weak class this year(2010) and probably would not have made the mcdonald team in another year…just has a size advantage, wasnt even the best player last year on his last year squad which features Marcus Thornton, a 6′8 wing player who signed with clemson. His stats says 16 pts per game…hmm well theirs guards in 4aaaaa that averages that and you don’t hear bout them. everybody thinks just because he comes in with all this exposure he automatically is supposed to get all the awards….What the hell…let your play do the talking and clearly his play didnt do the talking like guards Ryan Harrow and Devonte White!!!
visionary38
February 16th, 2010
5:20 pm
Ok, first of all lets understand the Mcdonalds selection stuff….the Mcdonalds is like a “lifetime achievement” award, most of those players have been big time players on the aau circuit for years. If you look up the list of current Mcdonalds voters you will see that they are scattered all over the nation and some of the voters are even high school coaches (Joe Wooten coaches Kendall Marshall a Mcdonalds selection)….so the process isn’t fair but what process is?! Lol
Ryan Harrow had one the best aau circuit seasons, came from being unranked to top 25 in the nation and by all means should have made Mcdonalds, but other players like Ray Mccallum, Kieth Appling, Doron Lamb had politics and a longer resume on their side….but this summer, RYAN HARROW DID IT BIG and politics aside..he’s a Mcdonalds All American. People are disappointed that Jelan didn’t make All Region….BLAME IT ON THE “POLITICS” and get over it!
W/E
February 16th, 2010
8:23 pm
Jelan sat out one game with the flu truth4westlake. He got benched for a half at an out-of-state tourney following that Campbell game you mentioned. Since that game, he’s been the player that he’s been projected to be. I’m not gonna sit here and try to convince you. You worry about Morrow Wheeler will worry about state.
3 Straight
February 16th, 2010
8:59 pm
It is time to change the subject to “the road to the GA final four”. Norcross will have the toughness road to get to the final four. They would battle at least three top ten teams of which at least two will be from region 6.
Come join me and my friends in the devil den at http://norcrosshighbasketball.blogspot.com/ to discuss “the road to the final four”.
T.Memph
February 17th, 2010
12:51 am
Really Georgia?? Shannon Scott and Julian Royal?? Would that be the same Shannon Scott that Joe Jackson abused in Missouri?
lovejoyallday
February 17th, 2010
12:57 am
some one tould me that Marcus Thornton was gay i mean he looked gay when we played agaist him the other night i heard he humps boys but since he is a big star know one cares he gay has anyone else heard of something like this cause i think it might be true
westlake
February 17th, 2010
1:07 am
y do i hear chads johnson voice when i read up on Truth4Westlake
Garnett
February 17th, 2010
1:11 am
To boyd, the dude who said Jelan was just an “ok player”. I award you the universal award for the universal understatement of this highly biased Memphis-what-a-be thread … and no matter how long the want-a-bes here last in their want-to-be-ness. Congratulations boyd!
northside
February 17th, 2010
8:14 am
wow now were stopping this bs right here. Shannon scott is the REAL DEAl. you say he got abused? is that why milton lead going into the 4th quater of the championship game of that tourney?. the only bad game he has truly had was the second game vs centennial but the whole team played bad that game. If you saw the first centennial game him and white went at it and put on the best point guard vs point guard show i have ever seen live. Scott is the truth. And yes maybe coach boyd said that about Jelan but guess what IT’S NOT HIS JOB TO PROMOTE OTHER TEAMS PLAYERS!!! omg you think the wheeler coach isent saying how overated harrow and the milton kids are? like come on stop getting your feelings hurt and lets just play ball. see you in the playoffs
northside
February 17th, 2010
8:20 am
p.s. to “3 straight” idk how the seeding and everything will work out but id love to see westlake,norcross, and two of the big three (milton,centennial,wheeler) in the final four now that would be a treat to watch
Region 6
February 17th, 2010
9:13 am
The #1 seed in Region 6 would face the #1 seed in Region 7 (Norcross) to see who gets to the Final 4.
The #2 and #3 seed in Region 6 will be on the same side as Westlake and meet in the first Final 4 game.
Meaning, if Wheeler gets 2nd place (or 3rd place) in Region 6, they would play Westlake at the Final 4. That would be some good drama.
Region 6
February 17th, 2010
9:17 am
Milton has to go through Walton (Thursday), Wheeler (Sat), and Centennial (Monday) to win Region 6. That couldn’t possibly be a tougher draw but they can do it. Should be a great tournament. Walton will be eliminated on Thursday. They have no chance vs Milton.
northside
February 17th, 2010
9:32 am
yeah i agree with you on that. I cant wait to see milton vs wheeler on a netural court and with milton back to full strength. In my opnion milton is the most talented team but they seem to come up short vs wheeler when it really counts. So i gotta say wheeler is the favorite until some proves they can not them off in the post season
northside
February 17th, 2010
9:33 am
knock* not “not”
Wheeler Rules
February 17th, 2010
10:53 am
We rule.
Georgia Basketball
February 17th, 2010
12:47 pm
AAU basketball gets a bad rap. A lot of good kids have got discovered by AAU basketball. Some high school coaches play favorites and could care less how good a kid is. Have seen players who never made the school team, get a scholarship soley on playing of AAU ball. There some good people in AAU as well as Schools. Have a better chance with AAU in getting a lot of exposure. Thanks AAU.
Westlake Fan/Jelan Fan
February 17th, 2010
12:53 pm
Wheeler#2: for your information, the information that I put in about Jelan comes from 1st hand accounts on what I saw daily. If you all are so sure about why all the negative stuff is being said, just look back at the rise article where Jelan states that he did not play in the state final four because he injured his ankle. He lied. The fact is he got kicked off the team for fighting during lunch and was not on the team. He left SACA because he was kicked off the team for fighting a teammate in front of a college coach. Ask Georgia Tech coach what he saw last year before a game. Jelan is a great player, but if you were his coach, you would understand how he has had such a bad rep. I just hope he changes his ways before he goes off to college.
HS Basketball Fan
February 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
There’s a reason Paul Hewitt and GT did not recruit this kid. And I’m not sure how much of the non-recruitment from GT was because of academics.
mrbball
February 17th, 2010
8:49 pm
@HS Basketball Fan…sorry to disappoint you but Paul Hewitt actively recruited Jelan. He chose MEMPHIS!!!
unbiased observer
February 18th, 2010
1:17 am
a lot of people have been sampling the sour grapes I see.
politics and jealousy are always at work.
look into your hearts to see the true motivations for what you say.
people who have a different horse in the race can be expected to bash the competition, and can be expected to deny it forcefully.
jhallmphs
February 20th, 2010
9:50 am
clearly not based on talent. transferring for one year got him snubbed, right or wrong. Like many have said, he will be primetime next year.
mmberry301
February 20th, 2010
11:41 am
Jelan….don’t sweat it. It’s all politics.
We can’t wait to see you in a Tiger uniform.
Us here in the 901 can’t wait to see the ‘Magnificient Seven’ that’s coming in.
BTW – Folks when you play for a very good team like Wheeler, Jelan doesn’t need to score 30 pts a game, although he can definitely do it.
Sincerely a rep from
TigerNation
daddy,ball
February 22nd, 2010
11:02 pm
its a whole lot of bullcrap in the state of georgia i know ican smell it
Cobb Fan
March 2nd, 2010
12:33 am
Jelan Kendrick is the best in the state period and he might have flaws in his behavior but don’t punish the kid for his past, The guys from Miltonare great but no Jelan Kendrick. Harrow is also great but doesn’t quite get the job done and as for Westlake they have great size and Marcus Thornton is a great talent but very inconsistent. I watched the ajc slam dunk contest and Jeff Newberry is a great athlete and I also tuned in for the region tourney and Newberry destroyed the comp. with ease. Look out for him and Thornton in the long run, Can you say (STATE CHAMPIOSHIP)
JrJonesBr
March 13th, 2010
6:04 am
Hey folks… I am brand new here but I can’t wait to start out having/getting some fantastic chats along with you all! I just thought i would introduce myself to you all so hi!
GEToffourTIP
March 26th, 2010
12:25 pm
idk why yall think region 6 AAAAA recruits, sorry if we live in a great area and were 20 mins from ATL and other stuff, sorry if your star players wanna leave your program and come to ours, not our fault, lip has faced this for a long time now and all he does is laugh while his athletes go on to play d1 and nba ball, i think thats why they come to him and wheeler, oh and not forget all the different academic honors wheeler has and how theyre one of the best public schools in the state, we are so sorry… now if we recruited, dont you think our football team would have won a game in the past two years or our baseball teams would be winning state champ after state champ, wheelers money goes mainly to the MAGNET program but for yall who never went there dont know that, and if you ventured into the school and to the MAGNET program, you would be able to see that… if anyone is recruitin and throwin money around it would be walton cuz they got it and they used to be absolutely horrible at bball, or how about milton that school looks like a college institution, and no offense to this wheeler team, but the ones of the past that i saw play that built the sense of entitlement that we never had were far better and they were kids that grew up in the program from east cobb middle and help build such great success to make high school stars wanna come to doug and get college and nba ready bc he knows what hes doing, obviously cause his record and number of kids in d1 shows it, not to mention jj hickson…. so before you get on here to start ranting and hating and talking about stuff that you have no idea about because youve never even seen wheeler then i suggest you quit posting bc you look ignorant, and yeah jelans numbers went down cuz he’s learning team ball not me ball but as far as his attitude idk, never met him… oh and whoever talked about the fans, ive been to some of the games and they aint nothing like we were when we were their, ppl thought they were in a college gym with the noise we made, but actually continue to hate because wheeler loves it!!