Tennessee five-star basketball signee Jaden Springer has been named to the 2020 McDonald’s All-American Game.
The roster for the game, which was announced on ESPN’s show “The Jump,” consisted of 24 of the top high school prospects around the country. Springer was one of the selections for the roster, and he’s the only Tennessee signee on the team. With Springer playing in the game, the Vols will be represented for the second year in a row at the prestigious event. Freshman guard Josiah-Jordan James played in the game last year.
Three of Tennessee basketball’s 2020 signees were nominated for the game. Five-star guard signee Keon Johnson and four-star forward signee Corey Walker Jr. did not make the roster, however.
The McDonald’s All-American Game will be played in Houston at the Toyota Center on Apr. 1. The men’s game will be played at 6 p.m. following the women’s game at 4 p.m.
Kellie Harper’s Lady Vol basketball program will not be represented in the game. The four-star guard signee duo of Destiny Salary and Tess Darby were nominated for the game, but neither were selected to play
Eight Tennessee basketball players have played in the prestigious all-star game in its history. James was the first Vol to make an appearance in the game since Tobias Harris, who played in the 2010 game. Scottie Hopson (2008) also represented Tennessee in the high profile event.
Going back a little further, Vincent Yarbrough (1998), Tony Harris (1997), Charles Hathaway (1996), Allan Houston (1989), and Doug Roth (1985) also played in the game.
Springer is ranked the No. 17 overall player in the country and the No. 4 shooting guard according to 247Sports. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Springer currently plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Springer is consider the fifth-best player in the state of Florida in the 2020 class.
Johnson is ranked No. 22, and Walker is ranked No. 37. Current Vol freshman guard Santiago Vescovi was the other signee in the 2020 class for Tennessee. Vescovi and the trio of McDonald All-Americans give Tennessee the current No. 6 overall recruiting class in the country according to 247Sports.
“The combined talent and potential of Keon, Corey and Jaden is really exciting,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said in November when the trio signed. “All three of them fit the culture of this program and come from incredible families who have provided wonderful support and guidance to get them to this point. It’s our responsibility now to help each of them take the next steps in their individual development—not only athletically but also as men.”
