Let me remind college basketball fans that the McDonald All-American High School Game is not always the best talent going to the college level.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s obviously some excellent talent in the contest. Some of the plays in the game are spectacular athletic maneuvers, but I still don’t put too much stock in the game.

Although I have to be honest, as an Illinois fan, I watched to see New Jersey prospect Charlie Villanueva, who has verbally committed to the Illini but may decide to turn pro. Villanueva had a dunk-fest but still doesn’t prove to me that he can play college basketball at a high level.

What will prove that to me? I will be convinced when Illinois head coach Bill Self puts on the military fatigues and Villanueva survives his conditioning and off-season practices.

However, a team doesn’t have to be built around players in these types of games. Let me throw out some names of great past college players who weren’t selected by the committee: Indiana’s Steve Alford, Maryland’s Len Bias, Kentucky’s Jamal Mashburn and Utah’s pair of Andre Miller and Keith Van Horn.

Some of the NCAA’s current best this season weren’t selected as well, including Marquette’s Dwayne Wade, Oklahoma’s Hollis Price, Kansas’ Kirk Hinrich, Wisconsin’s Kirk Penney, Connecticut’s Ameka Okafor and Creighton’s Kyle Korver.

The perception is the 24 players sponsored by America’s number one fast food restaurant will be the greatest thing since a quarter-pounder with cheese.

However, there is one of many examples that I will point out to disprove this perception as fact.

The 1990 Indiana High School Mr. Basketball was Damon Bailey. There’s a reason you have no idea who he is! Bailey was put on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the greatest high school player ever and had 41,000 people watch his final high school game.

Bailey played in the all-star game, wowed everybody and took his talents to Indiana University.

However, Bailey and Hoosier head coach Bob Knight never got along, which caused Bailey to slip in the 1994 NBA Draft to a second round sympathy pick by the Pacers.

Therefore, even though I hope Villanueva will come to Champaign, I rest my hope with none of the McDonald’s players like Deron Williams and James Augustine.

I’m sure that the Butler University coaches don’t even bother to watch this game and

they’re in the Sweet 16 this year.

How many of this season’s great players can you think of that aren’t? I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again. Great players don’t usually go far in the NCAA Tournament. Great teams win championships! Don’t believe me, go to Hinkel Fieldhouse and ask Butler because they’re still practicing to play Oklahoma.