High School: McDonald’s announces finalists for the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award

McDonald’s announced the finalists for the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award today. The annual award recognizes the nation’s top boys and girls high school senior student-athletes. Winners will be announced March 15, 2011.

Female finalists:

• Cierra Burdick (Butler High School – Mathews, N.C.)
• Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook High School – Bolingbrook, Ill.)
• Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei High School – Santa Ana, Calif.)
• Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne High School – Virginia Beach, Va.)

The 2011 McDonald’s All American Basketball Games will be played on March 30 at the United Center in Chicago. The Girls Game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will broadcast live on ESPNU.

Player bios from McDonald’s:

Cierra Burdick
Burdick is one of the top forwards in this year’s McDonald’s All American Game. She was named the North Carolina State Player of the Year while leading her team to a State Championship in 2010. In addition to basketball, Burdick won the 2007 women’s outdoor and  2010 women’s indoor State High Jump Championship. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is a four year honor-roll student. Burdick will attend The University of Tennessee in the fall.

Ariel Massengale
Massengale is currently one of the top point guards in the 2011 class. She led her team to back-to-back State Championships in 2009 and 2010, and claimed several awards along the way. In her spare time, she volunteers at her church, school and several different community organizations, including Ronald McDonald House Charities. Massengale will join Burdick at The University of Tennessee in the fall.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
Mosqueda-Lewis is a six-foot guard and top prospect on the ESPNU 100 list. As a three-point specialist, Mesqueda-Lewis gets comparisons to Ray Allen. As a Junior, she was named the ESPN Player of the Year and Parade All American. Off the court, she is a member of student council, campus ministry and volunteers at both a homeless shelter and a school for the blind. She will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall.

Elizabeth Williams
Williams has received comparisons to prominent NBA and WNBA centers because of her size and basketball fundamentals. The perennial award winner averages a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Williams is a two sport athlete who competes in the 400 meter dash and high jump. She volunteers at a local basketball camp in her community. Williams will attend Duke in the fall.