While his future teammates took off for Washington, UA signee DeAndre Ayton found out this week that playing in the McDonald’s All-American Game carries a heavy burden.
Not just the fact that he’ll be playing in the most prestigious high school all-star game in the country, at Chicago’s United Center, and before an ESPN audience.
It’s because he had to pick up Ronald McDonald.
Ayton held a press conference Tuesday to discuss his appearance in the March 29 game, and one of the official photographs released showed a smiling Ayton carrying the yellow-and-red character in his arms.
Ayton also posed with his mother, his Hillcrest Prep teammates, his coach and also thanked just about everybody in a speech.
“I would like to thank my mother,” Ayton said. “She’s always been there for me through ups and downs, and my family as well. I’d like to thank Hillcrest Prep as well. My teammates — we fight a lot in practice, but we really got the job done, and got me better. Thank you for inviting me and recognizing my talents. I’d like to thank the man above as well. Amen.”
