Three future Kentucky men’s basketball players were honored by USA Today for their stellar senior seasons as All-USA Boys Basketball members on Tuesday. P.J. Washington earned a second-team nod, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Quade Green were members of the third team.
USA Today comprises three teams made up of five players each for their All-America teams, highlighting the play of senior men’s basketball players throughout the country each year.
Gilgeous-Alexander will come to Kentucky out of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally from Canada, Gilgeous-Alexander was a member of the 2016 Canadian Men’s U18 National Team that captured the silver medal at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship over the summer. He averaged 7.8 points, a tournament-best 5.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game, second best in the field. ESPN, Scout and 247Sports tab him a top-50, four-star prospect.
He capped his season averaging 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He will suit up in the Nike Hoop Summit for the U19 World Team on April 7 in Portland. Fellow signees, Green and Nick Richards will also be a part of the 20th annual event.
Green is considered a five-star point guard prospect by Rivals, ESPN and Scout. ESPN ranks him as high as the No. 22 overall prospect in the class, while Rivals has him at No. 23, Scout tabs him at No. 25 and 247Sports list him at No. 31. Green just closed out a prolific high school career that saw him capture four state championships, including a 22-point, eight-assist and two-steal performance on March 23 to lift Neumann-Goretti to the title. He capped his senior year averaging 20.8 points and 8.0 assists per game.
Green, who was named the 2016 Pennsylvania Class 3A Player of the Year as a junior, was a part of the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship team that won a gold medal in Chile. He averaged 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in leading Neumann-Goretti High School to the Pennsylvania state championship in 2015-16.
Washington, measured at 6-8, 229 pounds, is rated as high as No. 14 overall in the rankings by Scout. 247Sports and ESPN have him at No. 16 and Rivals tabs him No. 17. The five-star prospect is considered the top power forward in the class by Scout. Washington was a member of the 2016 USA Men’s U18 National Team that won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship over the summer. He started all five games and averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. Washington also represented the U.S. at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championship. He earned second-team status by USA Today after averaging 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
Green and Washington are currently participating in McDonalds All America Game festivities in Chicago, along with fellow signee Richards.
The annual game featuring high school All-Americans is set to air live on ESPN on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
Deb Moore
Assistant Media Relations Director
University of Kentucky
