The Syracuse basketball program will not just have one McDonald's All American joining the 2011-12 roster, but two incoming freshmen, Michael Cater-Williams and Rakeem Christmas, earned roster invites, released Thursday, to play in the 34th Annual All-Star exhibition game, March 30 in Chicago.
Both Carter-Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard from Barrington, R.I., and Christmas, a 6-foot-10 forward from Bryn Athyn, Pa., will play on the East Team for head coach Bob Cimino. The two will be the 15th and 16th SU commits to participate in the event, which raises money for Ronald McDonald of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Other former Orange recruits that made the McDonald's All-American roster were Center Fab Melo ('10), guard Jonny Flynn ('07), forward Donte' Green ('07), guard Eric Devendorf ('05) and forward Carmelo Anthony ('02).
The Big East Conference will showcase three other players in the exhibition. Chane Behanan, a 6-foot-7 forward from Bowling Green, Ky., and Wayne Blackshear, a 6-foot-5 guard from Morgan Park, Ill., will each represent the Louisville Cardinals. Behanan will play for the East, while future teammate Blackshear will wear a West team uniform. Also, playing for the West will be Pittsburgh Panthers recruit Khem Birch, a 6-foot-9 forward from Fitchburg, Mass.