McDonald's All-American Game 2024: Breaking down the East, West girls basketball rosters
The East and West rosters are set for the most prestigious high school girls basketball all-star game in the country.
ESPN aired the 2024 class of McDonald's All-Americans on Tuesday, and now SBLive Sports will break down the East and West girls rosters.
Five players on the East roster come from two schools (Long Island Lutheran in New York and Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C.), while one-third of the West squad comes from California.
Minnesota is the only state to have one player on the East and one on the West.
EAST
Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (New Jersey)
A 6-foot combo guard and Vanderbilt Commodores commit, Blakes' improved shooting from the outside has sent her skyrocketing up the recruiting rankings.
Sidwell Friends star Kendall Dudley has signed to play college basketball for UCLA.
Photo by John Bowers
Kendall Dudley, Sidwell Friends (DC)
Dudley helped Sidwell Friends win the State Champions Invitational last year as a junior over Lone Peak, and she's stayed hot as a senior. The 6-foot-2 wing will join former Sidwell Friends teammate Kiki Rice next year at UCLA.
Joyce Edwards, Camden (South Carolina)
A 6-foot-2 forward and South Carolina Gamecocks signee, Edwards is ESPN's No. 2-ranked senior recruit in the nation. The versatile scorer and defender was named an SBLive Junior All-American last year.
Kayleigh Heckel is part of USC's No. 1-ranked recruiting class.
Photo by Matt Christopher
Kayleigh Heckel, Long Island Lutheran (New York)
Like Blakes, Heckel's shooting has been much-improved this season, and she rebounds exceptionally well for her size. The 5-foot-9 guard is also one of the best passers in the nation on one of the best teams in the nation, and will be heading to USC next season.
Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (North Carolina)
Jones is a human highlight reel who plays with flair on the court (the perfect combo for an all-star game). Expect the 5-foot-7 point guard heading to NC State to draw some oohs and ahs in April.
Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (New York)
As dominant as Koval is around the glass, the 6-foot-4 post can also step out and shoot the 3. The Notre Dame commit is arguably the toughest player to guard in the country.
Maddy McDaniel, Bishop McNamara (Maryland)
Few can compete with McDaniel's speed, and the 5-foot-9 point guard loves to attack the rim. She'll be playing for fellow point guard Dawn Staley next year at South Carolina.
Do-everything Benilde-St. Margaret's guard Olivia Olson will be a Michigan Wolverine next year.
Photo by Jeff Lawler
Olivia Olson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minnesota)
Olson can play anywhere from point to combo guard to wing, which is why she's often referred to now as a point forward. The 6-foot-1 Michigan signee has off-the-charts passing skills and can score from anywhere on the court.
Zania Socka-Nguemen, Sidwell Friends (DC)
Nicknamed "Big Z," Socka-Nguemen is a force down low with her muscular 6-foot-4 frame. She'll form a dynamic freshman duo with Dudley next season at UCLA.
Sarah Strong, Grace Christian (North Carolina)
Strong is the top-ranked recruit in the class and one of the few who remains uncommitted for college. The 6-foot-2 dynamo is listed as a forward but she can take over a game playing any position.
Syla Swords, Long Island Lutheran (New York)
Swords is a dominant two-way player for LuHi who can shoot the lights out from the outside and guard the other team's best player at the other end. The 6-foot combo guard will be fun to watch alongside Olson in April, as they'll both be Wolverines next year.
Pickerington Central wing Berry Wallace has signed with Illinois.
Photo by Gabe Haferman
Berry Wallace, Pickerington Central (Ohio)
Wallace is a double-double machine who can post defenders up, take them on off the dribble or pop the jumper from the outside. The 6-foot-1 wing will take her talents to Illinois next season.
WEST
Imari Berry, Clarksville (Tennessee)
Berry has led Clarksville to an 18-0 record thus far this season, and she eclipsed the 2,000-point career mark in scoring. The 5-foot-10 guard will be playing for Clemson next season.
Jaloni Cambridge, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Another Tennessee native like Berry, Cambridge transferred to Montverde Academy after leading Ensworth to the state title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. Few can match the 5-foot-6 future Ohio State point guard's quickness.
Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Texas)
The top-ranked senior recruit in Texas, Carlton is staying close to home to play for the Longhorns in college. The 6-foot-2 forward can score inside and out and is a tenacious rebounder.
Morgan Cheli steers the offense for the No. 1 team in the country, Archbishop Mitty.
Photo by Darren Yamashita
Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (California)
Cheli steers the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, and the 6-foot-2 guard has been committed to UConn for nearly a year. She scored 17 points in Mitty's win over then-No. 1 Long Island Lutheran in December.
Boise guard Avery Howell has soared up the national class of 2024 recruiting rankings.
Photo by Loren Orr
Avery Howell, Boise (Idaho)
Howell is a grinder who "takes competitiveness to another level," according to one of her coaches. The 5-foot-11 guard has been one of the fastest risers in the country in the recruiting world and will be playing next year for USC.
Jordan Lee, Stockton St. Mary’s (California)
Lee can score in buckets (she averaged over 20 points per game as a junior), but her defense is off the charts. The 6-foot combo guard has signed to play for Texas.
Liv McGill is one of the most dynamic point guards in the country.
Photo by Earl Ebensteiner
Liv McGill, Hopkins (Minnesota)
McGill's all-star pairing with the next player on this list will be fun to watch, as the point guard should be dishing to her future LSU teammate a lot in college. The expert passer's shooting has come a long way over her high school career.
Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Texas)
O'Neal signed with Florida in November, bypassing a chance to play at LSU where her dad did in the late 1990s. The 6-foot-3 post's father is NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
Mackenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon (California)
A bruiser down low just like her dad (former NBA star Zach Randolph), 6-foot forward Mackenly Randolph is down to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Louisville for her college choice.
Arianna Roberson, San Antonio Clark (Texas)
Roberson is coming off a junior campaign stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 24 points and 15 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-4 athletic forward should also be an excellent rim protector for Duke next season.
Kennedy Smith can play and guard any position on the floor.
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (California)
Similar to Sarah Strong, Kennedy Smith can play any position and look like the best player on the court. She can shift from guarding point guards to posts while filling it up inside and outside on offense. She's yet another USC signee in the Trojans' No. 1-ranked class.
Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wisconsin)
Ziebell is nearing 2,500 career points in high school and is averaging 28.6 this season. UConn coach Geno Auriemma is going to love her tenacious defense and high work rate.
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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports
