Teammates at the 2007 McDonald’s All-America basketball game, Cole Aldrich and Michael Beasley will be bitter rivals next season.

With that in mind, the future Kansas University and Kansas State players feuded good-naturedly Sunday through Wednesday in Louisville, Ky. – site of the hamburger all-star festivities.

“We harassed each other,” said KU signee Aldrich, a 6-foot-11, 250-pounder out of Jefferson High in Bloomington, Minn.

“I told him I heard he was doing a radio interview and he said K-State would beat us next year. I told him, ‘Well, it’s been a long time since you beat us. I predict it’ll be 40 straight before you win.'”

Beasley, a 6-8, 210-pound wing out of Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., last month told a Kansas City radio reporter KSU would break its 24-game home losing streak to KU next season in Bramlage Coliseum.

“I told him, ‘The last time you beat us, you were not alive,'” Aldrich said of Beasley, who earned MVP honors Wednesday after scoring 23 points in the West’s 114-112 victory over the East.

Aldrich chipped in six points off 3-of-4 shooting with eight rebounds and four blocks.

“There were other Big 12 players there, too – Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) and James Anderson (Oklahoma State),” Aldrich said. “When we left, I said, ‘See you, Blake. The next time I see you is when we beat you.’ He said, ‘That won’t happen.’ We were all giving it to each other. All these great players … the Big 12 is getting stronger and stronger.”

The Minnesota big man said he thought his Jayhawks will be the league’s strongest team next season.

“I hope nobody leaves. I don’t think anybody will leave. I think they want the title so bad,” Aldrich said of KU’s Brandon Rush and others with NBA futures. “They know we’ll have a heck of a team. They may think, ‘With Cole coming in, maybe he’s the final piece to us getting to that championship game.”’

Aldrich – who averaged 22.9 points, 17.6 rebounds and 3.8 blocks for state quarterfinalist Jefferson High – has one game remaining in his prep career.

He leaves today for Chicago, site of Tuesday’s Roundball Classic (7 p.m., United Center). Aldrich hopes his teammates on the East team (including O.J. Mayo and Alex Legion) decide to feed the ball inside more than his McDonald’s teammates did.

Aldrich received exactly one pass in scoring position during the McDonald’s game. He converted that pass into a 15-foot bucket.

His other two baskets came off offensive rebounds.

“I knew that coming into the game, being a big guy,” Aldrich said of not getting many good looks in games normally dominated by guards and small forwards.

“I was kind of disappointed in a few guys. In our three practices, they were feeding pretty well. I had some good 15-footers. When game time comes, it’s like (they said), ‘It’s my turn to shine.’ They didn’t pass the ball. I was like, ‘What?”’ Aldrich said.

“It was fun, real fun. I thought I played pretty well. I had six to eight rebounds, four blocks. I was satisfied. It was fun and for a good cause.”

The game benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities. Aldrich, Beasley and the other players visited a Ronald McDonald House in Louisville and bonded with several youngsters who live in the house.

“They had a hoop five-feet tall. It was cool playing basketball with the kids,” Aldrich said. “I think they enjoyed being around the players. It’s always rewarding to give something back.”

Aldrich, who recently was named state player of the year by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star-Tribune, is about ready to put his high school days behind him.

“I had a great senior year. We had a great team this year,” Aldrich said. “In a way, it’ll be a good thing to move on. Everybody gets to that point in their life where they get excited about going to college.

“Most of my buddies, even if they aren’t going on to play in college, halfway through the year were like, ‘Let’s get this over with.’ I was like that my junior year. It’s been like, ‘Let’s get to Kansas.’ Now I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

He’ll be here for summer school in June with Burlington senior Tyrel Reed, who this week was named Mr. Kansas by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, as well as walk-on Conner Teahan of Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst, last year’s Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for this year’s DiRenna Award, which goes to the top player in K.C.

“I think we’re going to be great,” Aldrich said. “I can’t wait to get to Kansas.”