BYU Basketball Signee Jake Wahlin Named McDonald’s All-American Nominee

PROVO, Utah – There’s no All-American designation more prestigious in high school basketball than McDonald’s All-American status. BYU basketball signee and Timpview High guard/forward Jake Wahlin was named a nominee for the prestigious team.

Hard work pays off ⛹️🍔

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 Boys Nominees — tag the first player you see. pic.twitter.com/FUMajNfCGl

— McDonald's All American Games (@McDAAG) February 18, 2021

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound Wahlin was one of 62 players in the west region who was named a nominee by the McDonald’s All-American selection team. Wahlin joined Wasatch Academy’s Nolan Hickman as the only players from the state of Utah to be named nominees.

Wahlin is averaging 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game for Timpview this season.

Last November, Wahlin made his commitment to BYU official by signing with the Cougars. Wahlin plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at BYU.

Timpview’s @WahlinJake on why he picked #BYU over Arizona State, USU, SDSU, and others.#BYUHoops @kslsports https://t.co/J2JeUVv3rS pic.twitter.com/bZHFyrHZVv

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 15, 2020

“Jake Wahlin is an incredibly intriguing young player who comes from a great family,” said BYU basketball coach Mark Pope last November. “His length, height, mobility, and ball-handling skills make him extremely versatile with a spectacularly high ceiling. Whether he becomes a 6-foot-8 point guard or a power forward, he has the potential to have a massive impact on BYU basketball. He is also very tough and not afraid of a challenge, and we are very excited to welcome him into the program.”

💘 @Ballislife @pdballislife pic.twitter.com/Y0GLFE6bg3

— jwall (@WahlinJake) February 11, 2021

Wahlin is the 12th highest prospect since 2000 to sign with BYU according to 247Sports. He’s the highest-rated recruit in BYU’s three-man class for 2021.

BYU Basketball’s history with McDonald’s All-American nominees & participants

Last year, BYU had two players that were named McDonald’s All-American nominees in Richie Saunders and Caleb Lohner.

Some other BYU players that have been named nominees the past decade include Kyle Collinsworth, Tyler Haws, Brandon Davies, DaMarcus Harrison, Raul Delgado, Nick Emery, Erick Mika, TJ Haws, Payton Dastrup, and Yoeli Childs.

BYU has had only four players in its history named to the final McDonald’s All-American rosters since the annual game began in 1978. Those players are Devin Durrant, Greg Kite, Shawn Bradley, and Garner Meads.

BYU assistant coach Chris Burgess was a McDonald’s All-American Game participant in 1996.

For the second consecutive year, there will be no McDonald’s All-American Game due to the coronavirus pandemic. There will be a final roster of All-Americans released at a later date.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.