Perry's Cody Williams named to McDonald's All-American high school basketball game

Gilbert Perry senior Cody Williams, a 6-foot-8, five-star recruit, was named to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American game.

He was named to the East team and likely will be going up against Bronny James of Chatsworth (California) Sierra Canyon, who was named to the West squad. Bronny is the son of Los Angeles Lakers great LeBron James.

He is the first player who competes in the Arizona Interscholastic Association named to the McDonald's game since Nico Mannion led Phoenix Pinnacle to a second straight state basketball title in 2019. Josh Green, who started his high school career at Glendale Mountain Ridge and finished it at IMG Academy in Florida, also played in the McDonald's game that same year.

Former Hillcrest Prep star Deandre Ayton, now the Suns center, played in the McDonald's game in 2017.

Williams, the No. 6 overall prospects in ESPN's 2023 player rankings, becomes the first Sam Duane Jr.-coached player to be named to the McDonald's All-American game and he has coached some great players at Tempe Corona del Sol and Perry during his career that includes five state championships. Duane also coached Cody's brother Jalen Williams, the 12th overall pick of the NBA draft, taken by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I'm so happy for him," Duane said about Cody, who has signed with Colorado. "It is a direct testament to the work Cody has put in.

"It is such a tremendous achievement and could not have happened for a better person."

Williams is among 24 of the nation's top senior high school basketball players chosen for the game, which will be played on March 28 in Houston at the Toyota Center.

Williams was the only AIA player chosen for the game.

Forward Mookie Cook of AZ Compass Prep of Chandler, a prep academy that plays a national schedule against other prep schools, also was selected to play in the game. Cook has signed with Oregon.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Perry's Cody Williams named to McDonald's All-American team