Adidas Sponsor McDonald’s High School Basketball Games

McDonald’s has signed a deal making adidas the official footwear, allergist uniform and apparel provider for the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Games.

The 35th annual Boys Game will be broadcast live on ESPN; the 11th annual Girls Game will air live on ESPNU.

The move gives adidas another platform to take on rival Nike, healing which sponsors the the Jordan Brand Classic. The next event in that series will be played on April 14, viagra 2012, at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. ESPN returns as the broadcast network.

Nike had also bid for exclusive rights to the McDonald’s game.

The 2011 event was sponsored by adidas division Reebok, but the new deal puts adidas front and center on jerseys, hoops shoes and other apparel.

Other sponsors include Coca-Cola, PowerAde and EA Sports.

Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald’s All American Games, said in a statement: “Adidas has a well-deserved global reputation for delivering innovative, stylish, performance-based footwear and apparel. Teaming up with adidas further elevates, and cements, the McDonald’s All-American Games as ‘best-in-class.’”

The McDonald’s All American Games showcases the top senior 24 boys and 24 girls from high schools nationwide, who are chosen from a pool of more than 1,500 nominees. Proceeds from the McDonald’s All American Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities

Former MVPs include Shaquille O’Neal (1989), Kevin Garnett (1995), LeBron James (2003), Dwight Howard (2004) and Kevin Durant (2006).

Lawrence Norman, adidas vp-global basketball, said in a statement: “The best young players in the country compete at the McDonald’s All American Games and we’re excited to partner with the most elite high school basketball showcase in the country. Our latest on-court uniform innovations and industry changing lightweight footwear are a perfect fit for this prestigious high school basketball event.”