Memphis Tigers' recruits see limited play in McDonald's All-American Game

The Commercial Appeal
By Dan Wolken
Posted March 31, 2010 at 9:10 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Joe Jackson has been a star player at every level, but for more than eight minutes in Wednesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game, he was sitting on the bench, waiting his turn.

For Jackson and fellow University of Memphis signee Jelan Kendrick, it’s probably the last time they’ll have to blend in for quite awhile.

Though it was a relatively quiet event for Jackson and Kendrick, who combined to score just seven points for the East team, which lost 107-104 to the West, it was a proud night for the Tigers’ program. For just the second time in school history, Memphis had multiple representatives at the McDonald’s Game, considered the most prestigious of all the high school all-star games.

It took awhile for the Memphis contingent to get on the court at Value City Arena on Wednesday, but Jackson, the former White Station point guard, nearly started with a bang. Coming out of the timeout at the under-12 mark, Jackson was supposed to be on the receiving end of an alley-oop from Tennessee signee Tobias Harris, but it was intercepted on the way to the rim.

Jackson finished the first half strong, getting fouled with 2:20 left on a drive and making both free throws, which turned out to be his only points. He also had two assists late in the half, including a slick feed through the lane to Harris for a dunk.

Kendrick, who missed Tuesday’s practice with a stomach ailment, did not get on the court until less than eight minutes remained in the half but drained a long two-point jumper on a kick-out by North Carolina signee Kendall Marshall.

Kendrick started the second half in place of Harris, who broke a toe. His highlight was a dunk with 8:49 remaining, passing up an open 3-pointer in the corner and driving baseline for the easier score. He finished with five points but three turnovers in 12 minutes. Jackson played 12 minutes and scored just two points.