Wednesday, February 14, 2007
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer / Plano Star

PLANO - With the playoffs in full swing, PISD basketball teams still have something else to celebrate as five players have been nominated for the 2007 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Team.

Sterling Melville, Micah Garoutte and Kathleen Nash (Plano West), as well as Shantel Pointer and John Roberson (Plano) are five of the 53 girls and boys from across North Texas that have been recognized as among the finest basketball players in the country.

These five players are among the 2,500 top prep basketball standouts in the nation nominated by the McDonald’s All American Basketball Team Selection Committee, a group of nationally prominent basketball experts.

As a nominee, each player will be considered for one of the 24 positions on the 30th annual boys McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Team and one of the 24 positions on the 6th annual girls team. The final squads for both will be announced in late-February.

Garoutte and Nash compile the only multiple nominations any one PISD program received this year. Not surprising considering both were part of last year’s state championship team and have guided the Lady Wolves to another district title this season.

Garoutte, who has signed on with TCU, is West’s main force in the middle and ranks among the District 9-5A leaders in both scoring and rebounding. Garoutte’s 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game are both second most on the team and each total puts her in the top 15 in the district.

“Micah has been on varsity for the past three years; she is a captain and one of our leaders,” said Don Patterson, West head coach. “Micah has really improved her agility and conditioning this season and that has allowed her to become more of a presence in the post.”

The other Lady Wolves player to make the list is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. Nash averages 17 ppg and 8.6 rpg, both of which are third best in the district. Nash has already signed on to continue her basketball career at Texas, where she will be reunited with older sister Kristen.

“Kathleen is an amazing young lady that is going to get even better at basketball now that all of her focus is going to be on one sport,” Patterson said. “She has a high work ethic in addition to her tremendous talent. Nothing can rattle Kathleen and she is always willing to do what is best for the team.”

Completing the trio of PISD girls to make the McDonald’s All-American nominee list is Plano’s Shantel Pointer, who has been a four-year starter for the Lady Wildcats. However, it may be Pointer’s senior season that is the most impressive of all.

Pointer has been a guiding force for Plano this season, as the Lady Wildcats finished second in District 9-5A, despite the fact that she is not 100 percent recovered from an ACL surgery. Pointer averages 13.8 ppg, which is tops on the team, and 5.9 rpg, which is second behind sophomore Chinyere Nnaji. Both of those totals also put Pointer in the district’s top 10.

“I think Shantel’s injury created an opportunity for her to become a better leader. This ordeal has brought out a great strength in Shantel, and she has developed a better view of the game as well as a stronger basketball IQ,” said Lynn Meger, Plano head coach. “Nothing excites me more than Shantel having a chance to pursue her dream of playing basketball at the next level.”

On the boys side, PISD has managed two nominees for the prestigious squad.

Although the Wolves failed to qualify for the postseason, Melville has been a leader for West throughout the year. After being named MVP at the 49th Annual Whataburger Tournament in late-December, Melville showed no signs of slowing down in district play.

Melville was the team leader in ppg and rpg with 19.8 and 8.2, respectively. Those totals were also third and fourth best, respectively, in District 9-5A.

“Sterling has been an exceptional player and leader for our team this season,” said Anthony Morgan, West head coach. “There is no one that deserves this honor more than Sterling does.”

The final PISD player to be nominated for the McDonald’s All-American team may also be the one with the best chance of making the squad.

Plano’s John Roberson has dazzled fans throughout the season with his scoring ability as well as his adeptness at passing the basketball. Roberson led the Wildcats with 25.4 ppg and 6.1 assists per game. Roberson’s point total was tops in the district and his apg was third-highest. Roberson was also in District 9-5A’s top 20 with 4.2 rpg.

All of this has come just one season after Roberson was named MVP of Plano’s state championship victory over Houston Kingwood.

“John has consistently excelled against the best competition in the state; there is not a light bright enough to make him flinch,” said Tom Inman, Plano head coach. “I’ve said it before, but I think John is unguardable at the high school level.”

This year’s McDonald’s All-American boys game will be played Wednesday, March 28, 2007, in Louisville, Ky. at Freedom Hall and will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. The girls game will also take place at Freedom Hall, tipping off at 4:30 p.m.

Proceeds from both games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Louisville. To date, nearly $5 million has been donated to RMHC from proceeds generated at the McDonald’s All-American games.

If any of the PISD basketball players make the final squad, they will be in elite company as McDonald’s All-American alumni include such current and former NBA superstars as: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

But even if none of the five players make the cut, it remains quite the accomplishment just to be nominated.

“This is a really neat honor for the players who get nominated,” Meger said. “Plus, it’s always fun to have someone of that caliber in your program.”