BIG MAC DADDY HAMBURGER HELPERS HEADED TO TOBACCO ROAD

And as far as the Tar Heels are concerned, not a moment too soon…

The McDonald's All American Basketball Games selection committee announced final rosters last week for the 33rd annual Boys Game and UNC has landed three players and Duke has at least one headed to Durham. A half-dozen Big Macs are still uncommitted.

Joining Harrison Barnes (Ames, Iowa, 6-8, 210 lbs, F) at North Carolina (all photos) will be Kendall Marshall (Dumfries, Virginia, 6-4, 195 lbs, G) and Reggie Bulloch (Kinston, North Carolina, 6-7, 190 lbs, G). Kyrie Irving (West Orange, New Jersey, 6-3, 187 lbs, G) will be heading to Durham for a four-year three-point-point shooting and referee chewing seminar.

"Year after year I am impressed with the extraordinary high school talent the McDonald's All American Games brings to the forefront of the basketball world," said Alonzo Mourning, captain of the McDonald's All American Advisory Council.

The 2010 McDonald's All American Boys Team features the nation's best high school basketball talent, including Harrison Barnes (Ames High School - Ames, Iowa - UNC), the top-ranked player in the ESPNU 100. Also taking the floor will be local star, Jared Sullinger (Northland High School - Columbus, Ohio), Brandon Knight (Pine Crest Academy - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Tristan Thompson (Findlay Prep - Henderson, Nev.) and Kyrie Irving (St. Patrick High School - Elizabeth, N.J.).

This year, 48 players were selected from 2,150 nominees by a committee of basketball experts. They were chosen not only for their on-court skills, but for their performances off the court as well. Coach Morgan Wootten, who had more than 1,200 wins as head basketball coach at DeMatha High, is chairman of the selection committee. In addition, legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who has been involved in the McDonald's All American Games since its inception, serves as chairman of the Games.

Since 1977, more than 950 players have competed in the McDonald's All American Games, forming an elite list that includes some of the top names in basketball history. McDonald's All American athletes include NBA greats Alonzo Mourning (retired), Magic Johnson (retired), Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets),

The game will be played on March 31 at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Boys Game will tip-off at 8:00 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPN.

The full rosters are available on http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/.

(Photos from Barnes family, and Mary Chind/ Des Moines Register)