Already they crack and fuss like an old couple. In the twilight of their remarkable careers at Arlington (Fla.) Country Day High School, Wally Judge and Rodney McGruder seem to be one in the same. They don't talk much. Each knows what the other is thinking. Judge was named a McDonald's All-American on Feb. 18. McGruder sizzled for a career-high 41 points Tuesday night. The strife: Exactly who is following whom on this ride?

"We've been together forever," Judge said. "Basically, Rodney's my wallet. He goes everywhere I go."

"No, no, no," McGruder counters. "Wally goes wherever I go, man. You can't listen to him."

Each chuckles, of course. The light-hearted jabs keep flowing as the dynamic duo attempts to stay loose following another day at school. But this wasn't like any other day. The Apaches are 22-7 and will travel from Jacksonville to Melbourne with hopes of toppling undefeated and No. 1-ranked Florida Air Academy on Saturday. The winner will advance to the final four in Lakeland on March 5.

At the moment, the halls of Arlington Country Day continued to buzz over McGruder's heroics. On a night when Judge, one of the nation's best centers, was marred in foul trouble, McGruder shouldered the load. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound shooting guard and No. 91-ranked player in the 2009 class scorched rival Providence for 41 points. And with the game in the balance and Judge back on the court in the waning seconds, McGruder caught a long inbound pass and without breaking stride tore down the court for a dunk with four seconds left in a 76-72 victory.

"The dunk felt good because I knew if I hit it the clock would keep running and I didn't want for them to foul me and stop the clock," said McGruder, who had 21 points in the final 5 minutes, 30 seconds of the game. "I also didn't want them to come back and hit a 3 or something crazy. You know, crazy things can happen in a game."

Judge, a 6-foot-9, 218-pounder and No. 23-ranked player overall in the 2009 class, said, "Rodney just went off."

But Judge wasn't finished assessing McGruder's performance.

"What was running through my head with four seconds to go?" Judge repeated. "I was running right behind Rodney, wondering why he didn't give it up. No, I'm playing. It was a great finish. He really played his heart out and carried the team."

They couldn't imagine being without each other on the court. Just as Judge and McGruder led their DC Assault AAU team in the first-annual Manhattan Classic last summer, the five-star Judge and four-star McGruder by Rivals.com leads a class of four players that have currently signed a letter-of-intent to play at Kansas State next season.

"We've grown together a lot," McGruder said. "When we get to Kansas State, we'll know what each other likes to do and know all those things that matter most on the court."

They've done their best to keep tabs on the Wildcats, who dropped to 19-9 overall and 7-6 in the Big 12 following a 94-74 loss at No. 8 Missouri on Wednesday night. Between schoolwork, practice and games, it gets tough. Judge knew the Wildcats at one point had rolled off seven straight wins. McGruder was anxious to watch Wednesday's matchup on ESPNU.

Both remain in contact with K-State coach Frank Martin and associate head coach Dalonte Hill, a former Assault standout. Martin and Hill each sent Judge and McGruder congratulatory text messages soon after the Apaches' win Tuesday night.

"I can't wait to help them out next year," Judge said.

Judge would like to bring another high school friend into the purple mix as well. DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward and the No. 2-ranked prospect overall for the 2009 class, continues to mull his final five, including Memphis, K-State, Washington, North Carolina State and Rice.

Judge and Cousins have been to many of the top camps together -- the Lebron James King's Academy and USA Elite, to name a couple. Judge said he even traveled to watch Cousins star in a high school tournament in Hawaii, adding, "We've become really good friends … we're really tight."

Cousins to K-State?

"It would be great," Judge said. "Not only would that give me another friend on the team, but I'd have the comfort in having another guy I've played alongside with and that I know is a good player. It would also make me better in practice because we could push each other and make each other better."

Still, Cousins remains undecided.

"Him and I had a ball playing together at Lebron Camp and he said he enjoyed playing alongside me," Judge said. "We just have like a cool bond. He told me he's thinking about it. He said he's liking Kansas State."

A lot can happen between March and next season. In Judge's case, a lot will happen. And has already happened.

Judge still thinks back to practice that day in the Arlington Country Day gym. He was shooting free throws during practice when coach Rex Morgan trudged toward him.

"Coach looked at me really sad like my dog died or something," Judge recalls.

Morgan took Judge into his office. An envelope bearing the McDonald's Golden Arches sat on the desk. Judge opened the envelope and stood speechless for a moment.

"Thanks," Judge said.

"Congratulations," Morgan replied.

Then Judge returned to practice, where he answered McGruder's puzzled look by saying, "Man, you know, I got McDonald's."

"I gave him a hug," McGruder said. "He's my brother."

They didn't have to say much, of course. They already knew what the other was thinking.

"Wally being a McDonald's All-American," McGruder said, "I really don't have any words to describe it."

Judge stepped to the free-throw line. Little could he predict what he would do next.

"I'm not a real emotional guy but as I got ready to line-up for a free throw I kind of teared-up a little bit because I realized how much work and effort I've put into getting better," Judge said. "Even though it's not the final stepping stone, it's a really big achievement."

Judge will compete for the West team in the McDonald's All-American Game in Miami on April 5. Cousins will be on the East squad. Judge said he has spoken with his proverbial big brother, Michael Beasley, a rookie with the Miami Heat. Beasley, the former Assault star, McDonald's All-American and National Player of the Year at K-State who turned pro after his freshman season, will try to be on hand to watch Judge take another step along a journey already thick with some striking parallels.

"I'm going to try and outdo Mike," Judge said. "I've got to beat him at something, show him how it's done in the McDonald's game."

Judge must capture the game's MVP honor and win the slam-dunk contest to do that.

"Yeah, see, if I win MVP, that's fine," Judge said. "Then I've got to win the dunk contest to beat him, too. I've been working on some things that I'm pretty sure nobody has ever seen before. We'll see if I pull them off. That'd be fun having Mike there to put on a show for him."

So could Judge top Beasley's showing in Miami?

"It's possible, man," McGruder said. "Wally has a nice work ethic. He wants to be better. He wants to be the best big man to ever play the game. That's what I admire most about him."

Intent upon following in Beasley's footsteps, Judge knows the big question already looming on the minds of some experts and the fans he will play in front of in Bramlage Coliseum next season: Will Wally be one-and-done?

"I knew that question was coming and I really wanted to avoid that," Judge chuckled. "You never know what the future holds. I love Kansas State, love it to death. I don't know how my first season could turn out. As for now, I love Kansas State and I'm looking to stay and wear purple."

Judge and McGruder prepare to face Florida Air Academy on Saturday. Already, they daydream about what the future might hold once they don the purple-and-white jersey, though. They talk about it sometimes, but don't really say much. They know.

"Rodney and I have been together forever," Judge said. "We're going to come ready to play."

And hopefully help the Wildcats to reach their next step, as well.

"We just want to prove that Kansas State can win," McGruder said. "We want to prove that we can compete with anyone."

Together they plan to give the Big 12 plenty to fuss about.