FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat McKee, 317-403-1665
June 6, 2026 IBCA Director of Special Projects
Harrell, Booker receive Wooden/MCL Awards for 2026
All-Stars from Carmel, Pike recognized for outstanding citizenship
Superior athletes. Strong students. Outstanding citizens.
In a phrase, those labels accurately describe Indiana All-Star basketball players and recent high school graduates Evan Harrell of Carmel and Komari Booker of Pike. Thus, each athlete has been named a winner of a Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award for 2026 as presented by the IndyStar Indiana All-Stars.
The Bellarmine University signee was selected 2026 IBCA Senior Supreme 15, 2026 AP high honorable mention All-State, 2025 IBCA Underclass Large School All-State and 2024 IBCA Underclass honorable mention All-State. He also received a Carmel “CLASS Award” in the fall of 2024 for outstanding achievement in the classroom, positive behavior, improvement and effort.
Over the years, Harrell has served the community by volunteering for Sam’s Wish, a Carmel-based program that helps people with disabilities live happier lives, and volunteering for the Merciful HELP Center, a program of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Carmel that helps people in times of need. He also has served as a teen minister at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.
Harrell plans to major in finance at Bellarmine.
The Northern Illinois University recruit is a two-time IBCA Large School All-State selection, a two-time AP high honorable mention choice, a three-time first-team all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference pick and a three-time first-team all-Marion County selection.
For several years, Booker has volunteered for the Mozell Sanders Foundation and its Feed The Hungry program, which originated out of Mt. Vernon Community Missionary Baptist Church, Booker’s home church.
Booker plans to major in sociology at NIU.
“Evan and Komari are great representatives for the Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award for the 2025 Indiana All-Stars,” Indiana All-Star games director Mike Broughton said. “Both Evan and Komari had strong high school careers on and off the court. We wish them well as they take their talents to the college level.”
The Wooden/MCL Citizenship Awards have been presented to one All-Star boy and one All-Star girl annually since 1992. The awards are named for the late John Wooden, an outstanding player at Martinsville High School and Purdue University and later a 10-time NCAA championship coach at UCLA.
“Since I am a strong believer in academic and citizenship awards, I am honored that MCL desires to use my name for this honor,” Wooden said when the award established in 1992.
MCL Restaurant & Bakery, based in Indianapolis, has sponsored the Wooden Citizenship Award for all 35 years that it has been presented. MCL also has supported the Indiana All-Star program for about 35 years. The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, organizers of the Indiana All-Stars, thanks MCL for its continued support.
A list of Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award winners from over the years follows.
Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award Winners
Year: Boys Winner, School; Girls Winner, School
1992: Billy Wright, Richmond; Kristin Mattox, Charlestown
1993: Kelcey Mucker, Lawrenceburg; Regan Seybert, Anderson Highland
1994: Tige Darner, Anderson Highland; Tiffany Gooden, Fort Wayne Snider
1995: Damon Frierson, Ben Davis; Lisa Williams, Carmel
1996: Mickey Hosier, Alexandria; Janette Jaques, Lafayette Jeff
1997: Michael Menser, Batesville; Katrina Merriweather, Cathedral
1998: Patrick Jackson, Delta; Amber Schober, Plainfield
1999: Jon Holmes, Bloomington South; Kristen Lowry, Logansport
2000: Aaron Thomas, Northridge; Sara Strahm, Ben Davis
2001: Chris Hill, Lawrence North; Ebba Gebisa, West Lafayette
2002: Seth Colclasure, Bellmont; Candace Dark, Fountain Central
2003: Andrew Hershberger, Goshen; Amanda Norris, Shenandoah
2004: Peter Minchella, Harrison (West Lafayette); Kristen Miller, Tri-Central
2005: Derek Drews, Elkhart Central; Dana Beaven, Corydon Central
2006: Brandon Hopf, Forest Park; Ashley Barlow, Pike
2007: E’Twaun Moore, East Chicago Central; Sha’la Jackson, Fort Wayne South
2008: Tyler Zeller, Washington; Brittany Rayburn, Attica
2009: Errick Peck, Cathedral; Courtney Osborn, Hamilton Southeastern
2010: Erik Fromm, Bloomington South; Dee Dee Williams, Ben Davis
2011: Austin Richie, Lowell; Amanda Corral, Hobart
2012: D.J. Balentine, Kokomo; Alex Morton, Penn
2013: Collin Hartman, Cathedral; Andrijana Cvitkovic, Culver Academy
2014: Tayler Persons, Kokomo; Tayler Goodall, Columbus North
2015: Joel Okafor, Richmond; Ali Patberg, Columbus North
2016: Tucker Blackwell, Bloomington South; Cameron Onken, Lafayette Central Catholic
2017: Jack Nunge, Castle; Madison Wise, Greenfield-Central
2018: Dean Tate, Warren Central; Emily Kiser, Noblesville
2019: Jesse Bingham, Warren Central; Maddie Nolan, Zionsville
2020: Dre Davis, Lawrence Central; Madison Layden, Northwestern
2021: Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek; Courtney Blakely, Hammond Bishop Noll
2022: Connor Essegian, Central Noble; Ally Madden, Blue River Valley
2023: Zane Doughty, Ben Davis; Amber Tretter, Forest Park
2024: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani; Camryn Runner, Hamilton Heights
2025: Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North; Ella Bobe, South Knox
2026: Evan Harrell, Carmel; Komari Booker, Pike
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