Student athletes at the New Heights Youth organization were in for quite the surprise on Friday night when McDonald’s kicked off the countdown to the All American Games on their home court at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights.
A week before the nation’s premier high school basketball showcase tips off at Barclays Center for the very first time, boys and girls at New Heights received exclusive jerseys and a special guest appearance from NBA legend and former McDonald’s All American Carmelo Anthony.
“The game of basketball is about so much more than stats or the final scores,” said Ryan Worthy, director of brand, content, and culture for McDonald’s. “It’s really about perseverance, teamwork, passion, and the drive to achieve your full potential both on and off the court. New Heights Youth Inc. does so much incredible work in creating opportunities for young athletes just like you to be leaders in your communities. At McDonald’s, we and our franchisees share a similar commitment and passion for serving up opportunities with local communities.”
New Heights Inc. is a sports-based youth organization that empowers promising, underserved student athletes to meet their potential on and off the court. The nonprofit combines educational programming with the unifying power of basketball to develop the next generation of community leaders.
A Brooklyn native himself, Anthony finished his career as one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Playing 19 seasons, Melo was a 10x All Star, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, and an all-time great for the New York Knicks.
During his high school days, Anthony famously participated in the 2002 McDonald’s All American Games. Now an ambassador for the showcase, he told the children about the unifying power of the event — and basketball at large — and explained that New Heights provides them with a similar opportunity to forge meaningful relationships that will last a lifetime.
“I really understood what it was all about,” he told the kids, drawing from his experience of meeting new people and making new friends. “For those guys and girls that you play with in the McDonald’s game, they’re with you forever. So for this group right here, you should be supportive of one another, work hard, and enjoy it.”
Standing alongside Anthony was Tyrrell Winston, a contemporary artist who made a name for himself by creating basketball art out of objects he found on the streets of Brooklyn. He was responsible for designing the court for the upcoming All American Games at Barclays Center.
Speaking with the kids, Winston emphasized how his art is a reflection of the Brooklyn community.
“I think it’s really beautiful to have art be a part of community,” he said. “My drawings — I call them ‘noodles,’ my New York doodles — are based on what it was like to be your age and then it’s reinterpreted in a lens that a bunch of people can see, center court at Barclays.”
Winston then surprised the children by unveiling special-edition “New Heights” McDonald’s All American jerseys that he designed exclusively for them. The artist’s design was inspired by Anthony’s attire for the 2002 Games, and each kid received a jersey that corresponded with their number.
The surprises didn’t end there. After Anthony addressed the children, he unveiled a $25,000 check from McDonald’s to help New Heights continue its mission of developing not only great athletes, but great people in the community.
From there, the kids broke off for basketball practice. Anthony watched intently from the sidelines before jumping in to deliver some passes during their half-court scrimmage. He rounded out the evening by signing autographs, answering questions, and handing out All American-themed Happy Meals.
“I’ve been doing it for twenty-something years,” Anthony told reporters at the event. “To still be able to connect back to a younger generation where there’s still relevance, they’re still looking to me for advice, and they’re still trying to understand how to navigate certain aspects… It’s a blessing and I’m truly gracious for that.”
The 48th annual McDonald’s All American Games kicks off at Barclays Center with the Sprite Jam Fest on March 31 at 7:15 p.m. The 2025 All American Games will follow on April 1, with the Girls Game tipping off at 6:30 p.m. and the Boys Game at 9 p.m.
