Gilchrist named McDonald's co-MVP

Maybe it was because he took six weeks off of basketball last summer that caused him to lose his stranglehold on the recruiting rankings' top spot that he had held for years.

Gilchrist had 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in a 111-96 East win.

Perhaps it was the emergence of guys like Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.

Maybe it was because he was the first of Kentucky's fantastic four 2011 recruiting class to commit to the Wildcats. Perhaps some of the luster had worn off.

It doesn't help matters that he isn't exactly the flashiest of the bunch. But either way, Michael Gilchrist had become somewhat of a forgotten man, almost an afterthought in a recruiting class that included four McDonald's All-Americans Davis.

But Wednesday night at the McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago, Gilchrist once again reminded everyone why he was at the top of everyone's recruiting wishlist, including UK coach John Calipari.

In a a game chocked full of them, Gilchrist was a star of stars, quietly going about his business in his usual way, scoring 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out four assists en route to being named co-MVP as the East scored a 111-96 win over the West at the United Center in Chicago.

Gilchrist made 5 of 13 shots, including a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line, in 23 minutes of action. North Carolina signee James McAdoo, nephew of Tar Heel great Bob McAdoo, was also named co-MVP after scoring a game-high 17 points.

Fellow UK signee and Chicago native Anthony Davis also turned some heads with 14 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals for the West in 21 minutes.

Kyle Wiltjer scored 11 points while Marquis Teague added nine points and three assists also for the West squad.