Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Candace Parker, Alonzo Mourning—with scores of NBA and WNBA stars among its alumni, the McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Boys and Girls Games have come to signify the promise of the sport.

Hosted by a different city each year, the double-header games showcase the nation’s best high school basketball players. This year, for the first time in their history, the games took center court in Coral Gables, broadcast live by ESPN. On April 1 at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center, the Girls Game set a record as the closest in its eight-year history, ending at 69-68. The Boys Game, East versus West, was also a heated match with a final score of 113-110.

The 7,000-seat Bank-United Center and new basketball practice facility made the University an ideal choice to host the games, said Tara Hayes, game manager for McDonald’s Corporation.

Alex C. Rodriguez, B.B.A. ’86, a local McDonald’s owner and operator, chaired the 2009 Miami event. “So many of the great players in the NBA, the majority were All Americans,” he told the local media. “We’re excited to have the game here.”

Ralph Alvarez, B.B.A. ’76, McDonald’s North America president and chief operating officer, and other McDonald’s executives Jose Armario, M.S. ’03, and Dean Myers, B.B.A. ’80, M.B.A. ’81, also supported the premier event’s South Florida arrival. At the Boys Game, Alvarez honored McDonald’s All American Advisory Council Captain Alonzo Mourning with the retirement of his jersey.

Among the many other ’Canes seen courtside were Miami anchorwoman and UMAA president Jackie Nespral, A.B. ’89, Baltimore Ravens defensive back Edward Reed, B.L.A. ’02, NCAA All-American and Arizona Cardinal free safety Antrel Rolle, B.S.Ed. ’02, and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Jon Secada, B.M. ’83, M.M. ’86—all of whom served as judges for the 2009 Powerade Jam Fest, a pre-game contest testing the young players’ dunking, three-point-shooting, and other hoops skills.

All American Morgan Stroman, a 6’1” forward from South Carolina who cited swimming with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium as a highlight of her week, was tapped as a Miami Hurricane for 2009.

The games and related events benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provide support for families and children receiving treatment at local hospitals. A portion of the 2009 proceeds go to the South Florida chapter, which includes a Ronald McDonald House near Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where the All American players started their week—visiting the children and even playing basketball with some of them.

“We all need to help in our local communities,” Rodriguez told the press. “Seeing the smiles they give kids, that’s what it’s all about.”

Since de­­buting more than 30 years ago, the All American games have raised more than $5 million for Ronald McDonald House and other children’s charities.