Boys Basketball: West Aurora’s Gordie Kerkman named coach for McDonald’s All-American Game

Updated: February 23, 2012 8:49PM

McDonald’s made it official Thursday. West Aurora’s Gordie Kerkman will be one of four head coaches for the McDonald’s All-American Games that will be played March 28 at Chicago’s United Center.

“It is quite an honor, I’m pretty happy about it,” Kerkman said of the announcement that confirmed last week’s multiple news reports.

The veteran coach will lead the West All-Stars against the East Stars and coach Billy Hicks of Scott County High School in Georgetown, Ky.

Zion-Benton coach Tanya Johnson will coach the Girls West team against a Girls East team directed by Anne Long of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. The 11th annual girls game will begin at 6 p.m. and be televised live on ESPNU. The 35th annual boys game will start at 8:30 p.m. and be aired live on ESPN.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster with proceeds going to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland.

This will be the second time Kerkman has coached in a high-profile all-star game at the home of the Bulls.

“I coached in Sonny Vaccaro’s Roundball Classic there (in 2002),” said the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer who has a 731-291 career record in this, his 36th season leading the Blackhawks.

“The McDonald’s game and Roundball Classic were in competition back then, but the McDonald’s has gotten a little bit bigger and they don’t have the Classic anymore.”

Kerkman’s 2002 team featured Raymond Felton, a point guard who went on to star at the University of North Carolina and then in the NBA.

“He was the MVP of the game and was the only one, I think, who really made it big in the NBA,” Kerkman said. “I know he played with the Clippers and Charlotte, maybe others. It didn’t draw too well but the next year the place was full. (Former West standout) Dameon Mason played in that one, which had LeBron James. Of course, everyone came to see James.”

Kerkman, whose 21-5 team opens postseason action next week at the Oswego Class 4A Regional, said he will have two practices with his team but concedes there’s not a lot of coaching involved.

“You just pretty much have fun with it and make sure they all get an equivalent amount of playing time,” he said, “although you do try to win.”

Kerkman will be joined on the sideline by former longtime assistants Curtis Shaw and Rick Thompson. There are no Illinois seniors on the roster of either boys team this season.

Connecticut recruit Morgan Tuck, a 6-2 forward from Bolingbrook, will join Niles West guard Jewell Loyd on Johnson’s West All-Stars in the girls game, and Young guard Janee Thompson will be a member of the East Stars.

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