High school basketball: McDonald's All-American Game to return in 2022 after two-year hiatus

The McDonald's All-American Game announced Wednesday plans to return to Chicago in March of 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 45th annual edition will take place at Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA's Chicago Sky.

Should the 2022 edition go on as planned, it will mark the ninth time the prestigious event will be held in the Windy City, after previously hosting the games in 1982 and 2011-2017.

Since the inaugural McDonald's All-American Game in 1977, 1,536 male and female athletes have participated, including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Durant among others.

Skylar Diggins, Sabrina Ionescu, Maya Moore and Candace Parker are past players in the girls game.

Last season, 48 male and female athletes were selected to McDonald's All-American Game rosters and honored virtually after the event's cancellation.

Dereck Lively II of Westtown (West Chester, Pa.), Amari Bailey of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), Dariq Whitehead of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and Chris Livingston of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) are among the elite seniors who will be on the radar to earn an invite in 2022.