All-USA TODAY girls basketball
Player of year Christyn Williams leads first team
ABOUT THE TEAM The American Family Insurance All-USA girls basketball team was selected by Jim Halley after discussions with high school basketball coaches. Ten of the selections are seniors; Haley Jones, Samantha Brunelle and Ashley Owusu are juniors; Caitlin Clark is a sophomore and Azzi Fudd is a freshman.
FIRST TEAM Player of the Year
Christyn Williams, 5-11 guard, Central Arkansas Christian, North Little Rock, Ark. Details: Connecticut signee led team to a 36-1 record and the 4A state title, averaging 26.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Best juke: I made my friend (Tori Lasker) fall last year in a conference game and I have it on video. I did a hesitation and pulled back, and she went flying. The whole crowd was “Ooooh.” She’s one of those small point guards who is aggravating and really quick. School daze: Our high school is putting on high school musical plays, but they are during state championship time, so I couldn’t be in that. However, the girls on our team are helping with the choreographing. We are helping the theater kids with the moves. Non-basketball hero: My sister, Timia Watson. She’s always been there for me. And of course, my parents.
Coach of the Year
Bob Mackey, Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y.
Details: Coached his 25th state Catholic school state title. Has coached three players who made the 35th anniversary All-USA girls roster: Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tina Charles. He was the All-USA Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006. Also coaches volleyball at Christ the King. What my real job is like: At Christ the King, I’m the bottle washer. I clean the floor. I teach chemistry. I’m the athletic director, along with the boys coach, Joe Arbitello. I drive the bus. I also teach honors chemistry and direct a research program for science research, which is always fun. CTK tradition: Tina (Charles), Carrem Gay and 11 or 12 former players came back when we played for the Brooklyn-Queens title this season. The whole crew hung out like they had never left. It was great for my kids to see that camaraderie going on so many years later.
Second Team
Jenna Brown, Lovett (Atlanta), 5-10 guard
Stanford signee averaged 24.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals.
Destanni Henderson, Fort Myers, Fla., 5-8 guard
South Carolina signee led team to state title, averaging 15.2 points and 6.1 assists.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.), 6-4 center Connecticut signee averaged 19 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Shakira Austin, Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 6-4 forward Maryland signee averaged 18 points for the 22-5 Crusaders.
Samantha Brunelle, Monroe (Standardsville, Va.), 6-3 forward
Junior averaged 30.0 points, 15.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 blocks.
Third Team
Azzi Fudd, St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 5-11 guard
Freshman led Cadets to the WCAC title, averaging 24 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Ashley Owusu, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 5-9 guard
Junior averaged 19.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
Queen Egbo, Travis (Richmond, Texas), 6-3 center
Baylor signee averaged 17.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 5.0 blocks.
Zarielle Green, Duncanville, Texas, 6-0 wing
Tennessee signee averaged 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 39-2 team.
Caitlin Clark, Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa), 5-11 guard Sophomore averaged 27.1 points, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals for 20-4 team.