If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 1 championship team since 1979 has not had such a player (Maryland in 2002). The 42nd annual McDonald’s All-American Game will take place on March 27th in Atlanta, GA, and the rosters were announced on January 24th after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a whopping 2500 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach K how he likes having 2018 honorees RJ Barrett/Zion Williamson at Duke! Durham will be getting a couple more in the fall when 2019 honorees Vernon Carey/Wendell Moore head to Cameron Indoor Stadium. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Wendell about being a McDonald’s All-American and how much company he will have.
You were born in Richmond before moving to Charlotte: what was your favorite college basketball team growing up? It has been Duke ever since I was young.
You played for team USA at the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship/2018 FIBA U17 World Cup: what did it mean to you to represent your country/win a pair of gold medals? It meant a lot to me: it has always been 1 of my dreams to represent my country and winning a pair of gold medals was a great accomplishment.
You have won 2 straight 3A state titles at Cox Mill High School: what is the key to winning championships? Just having a team with really good players and then getting the job done.
Last October you signed with Duke (over NC State/North Carolina/South Carolina/Wake Forest): what made you choose the Blue Devils? I really liked their team and the school’s winning tradition: I enjoyed all of it.
They currently have several sensational freshmen including RJ Barrett/Tre Jones/Cam Reddish/Zion Williamson: are you expecting a crowded roster in the fall or do you think the current guys will all be 1-and-done? I think they will all have a great chance of being 1-and-done and making it to the NBA.
You are 6’6” but have a nearly 7’ wingspan: what position do you play in high school, and what position do you expect to play in college? I play mostly PG/SG for now. I think that combo guard will also be what I play at Duke due to my size but I am happy to play wherever they tell me to.
In January you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me because it was another 1 of my dreams. Everyone wants to be a McDonald’s All-American when they are growing up.
Duke has another incoming McDonald’s All-American in Vernon Carey (who was your teammate at the FIBA U17 World Cup last summer): how close are you 2, and what makes him such a great player? We are really close and have played against each other since the 7th/8th grade. He can feed off of anybody and does whatever is needed to win, which is what makes him 1 of the best players in our class.
The Blue Devils also remain 1 of the finalists for fellow McDonald’s All-American Matthew Hurt: how are your recruiting efforts going so far? I am trying a little bit and talking to him here and there. I also talked to him during his official visit and just told him that Duke is a great school if he wants to play for the best.
Your father Wendell Sr. played basketball at Christopher Newport University and your cousin Derrick Reid played basketball at VCU: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say me!