University Southern California Trojans
USC Women’s Basketball Leads the Way in McDonald’s All-American Selections
January 25, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Incoming Trojans Kayleigh Heckel, Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith also land on the Naismith High School Trophy Midseason Team.
USC women's basketball is continuing its legacy of greatness with incoming women's basketball recruits Kayleigh Heckel, Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith earning spots on Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Midseason Team. But the accolades don't stop there. Keeping their momentum, Heckel, Howell and Smith also were named McDonald's All Americans on Jan. 23.
Out of a pool of 700 nominees, 24 players are selected to play in the annual basketball showcase. With three signees on the McDonald's All-American list, USC emerges as the most represented school among the talented roster. The game will be televised on ESPN/ESPN2 on April 2 from the Toyota Center in downtown Houston at 6:30 p.m. ET.
By way of Port Chester, N.Y., 5-9 point guard Kayleigh Heckel is no novice in achieving high honors. Ranking No. 28 on the ESPNW Top 100 list, Heckel led Long Island Lutheran High School to the 2023 finals during the 2022-23 season with over 2,000 points in her prep career. Additionally, Heckel is a 2022 Nike TOC Champion.With Long Island Lutheran currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, Heckel is looking to clinch more than a spot in the national finals with her team this season.
Joining Heckel on the ESPNW Top 100 list at No. 23 is 6-0 guard from Boise, Idaho, Avery Howell. Her recent selection as a McDonald's All-American makes her one of the only two players in Idaho history to be chosen. During the 2022-23 season Howell set single-season records in rebounds and points, helping her earn 2023 Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year. Outside of participating in the Wooten Top 150, Howell has taken her talents out of the country as an invitee to the Canadian National Team's training camp in 2023 and Adidas 3SSB Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. Currently averaging a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds per game the Trojans are more than excited to have Howell as an addition to the team.
The third and final USC commit who is both a McDonald's All-American and ranked on the ESPNW Top 100 list is 6-1 guard Kennedy Smith from Etiwanda, Calif. Ranked as the No. 6 player in the country, Smith helped Etiwanda High to an Open Division State Championship and Southern Section title during the 2022-23 season. In the same season, she was recognized as first-team all-state and was a Nike EYBL Champion with AAU team CalSparks. Additionally, she was selected to the L.A. Times' 2023 All-Star Team and was named the 2023 Press Enterprise Inland Empire Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
During an already exciting season, USC women's basketball has a lot to look forward to with the addition of its decorated incoming class. Heckel, Howell and Smith will join fellow incoming Trojans and nationally ranked players Rian Forestier, Vivian Iwuchukwu and Laura Williams for the 2024-25 season. As of Nov. 21, ESPN has USC's incoming 2024 class ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Out of a pool of 700 nominees, 24 players are selected to play in the annual basketball showcase. With three signees on the McDonald's All-American list, USC emerges as the most represented school among the talented roster. The game will be televised on ESPN/ESPN2 on April 2 from the Toyota Center in downtown Houston at 6:30 p.m. ET.
By way of Port Chester, N.Y., 5-9 point guard Kayleigh Heckel is no novice in achieving high honors. Ranking No. 28 on the ESPNW Top 100 list, Heckel led Long Island Lutheran High School to the 2023 finals during the 2022-23 season with over 2,000 points in her prep career. Additionally, Heckel is a 2022 Nike TOC Champion.With Long Island Lutheran currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, Heckel is looking to clinch more than a spot in the national finals with her team this season.
Joining Heckel on the ESPNW Top 100 list at No. 23 is 6-0 guard from Boise, Idaho, Avery Howell. Her recent selection as a McDonald's All-American makes her one of the only two players in Idaho history to be chosen. During the 2022-23 season Howell set single-season records in rebounds and points, helping her earn 2023 Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year. Outside of participating in the Wooten Top 150, Howell has taken her talents out of the country as an invitee to the Canadian National Team's training camp in 2023 and Adidas 3SSB Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. Currently averaging a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds per game the Trojans are more than excited to have Howell as an addition to the team.
The third and final USC commit who is both a McDonald's All-American and ranked on the ESPNW Top 100 list is 6-1 guard Kennedy Smith from Etiwanda, Calif. Ranked as the No. 6 player in the country, Smith helped Etiwanda High to an Open Division State Championship and Southern Section title during the 2022-23 season. In the same season, she was recognized as first-team all-state and was a Nike EYBL Champion with AAU team CalSparks. Additionally, she was selected to the L.A. Times' 2023 All-Star Team and was named the 2023 Press Enterprise Inland Empire Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
During an already exciting season, USC women's basketball has a lot to look forward to with the addition of its decorated incoming class. Heckel, Howell and Smith will join fellow incoming Trojans and nationally ranked players Rian Forestier, Vivian Iwuchukwu and Laura Williams for the 2024-25 season. As of Nov. 21, ESPN has USC's incoming 2024 class ranked No. 1 in the nation.
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