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HOUSTON’S AYLA McDOWELL SELECTED FOR THE 2025 McDONALD’S ALL AMERICAN GAMES
(HOUSTON) – The McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee has revealed Ayla McDowell from Cypress Springs High School will be suiting up at Barclays Center in Brooklyn alongside the nation’s most elite players for the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Games.
The 2025 rosters for high school basketball’s most iconic showcase were based on competitive criteria. McDowell was chosen from a list of 26 nominees by some of the nation’s top analysts, prep scouts, media and coaches.
McDowell is one of 24 all-star players from across the country on the girls’ team. Check out the complete 2025 McDonald’s All American Games Final Roster on mcdaag.com.
Whether you’re in Brooklyn or at home, there’s a way for you to cheer on the games’ future icons:
· The Sprite Jam Fest, featuring a 3-Point Contest, dunk competition and a knockout game, will be held on Monday, March 31. Ticket information will be provided at a later date.
· Tickets to the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games at Barclays Center on Tuesday, April 1 are now available through ticketmaster.com or by visiting our website at mcdaag.com.
· Fans can tune in on ESPN and ESPN2. The Sprite Jam Fest will air Monday, March 31 at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The 2025 McDonald’s All American Games will start with the Girls Game on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the Boys Game will immediately follow on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Follow @McDAAG on X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest news and announcements.
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ABOUT McDONALD’S GREATER HOUSTON OWNER/OPERATORS
The McDonald’s Greater Houston Owner/Operators Association (GHOA) is a co-operative of local business owners who own and operate more than 300 McDonald’s restaurants in Greater Houston. GHOA-owned McDonald’s restaurants employ more than 15,000 people in the Greater Houston community. Follow Houston McDonald’s on Instagram @McDonaldsHouston and Facebook @McDonaldsHouston and TikTok @McDonaldsHouston.
Cy Springs' Jemini Mitchell
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Nationally-recognized Mitchell continues to make name for herself
IT TOOK NO TIME AT ALL FOR AUDIENCES TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE NAME JEMINI MITCHELL.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Cy Springs’ newest star made one the most utterly dominant freshman debuts that the state has seen, having scored 538 points, with 219 rebounds, 70 assists and a team-leading 46 blocks.
This would obviously result in a District 16-6A Newcomer of the Year selection, but she’s much more than just a big body.
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“Most people might lean more towards their shooting ability, which I do think I’m skilled in that area,” said Mitchell. “But, I like to think that my greatest strength relates to my versatility as a player. Sure, I have the size, but I’m able to play inside and outside the paint and I feel that my defense has gotten better over the years.”
Entering her sophomore year, Mitchell is listed as a five-star recruit who’s the No. 1 ranked player in Texas and No. 13 in the nation in the Class of 2027.
That instantaneous level of success, coupled with her growing confidence, could arguably be attributed to the landscape she’s developed her game in.
“Being in this program has really allowed me to grow as a person, even though I’m only entering my second year,” she said. “On and off the court, I feel like my coaches and teammates push me to be better. You have to mature at a rapid pace in order to compete at this level, which is something that really sticks with me.”
Teamwise, the Panthers enjoyed yet another tremendous season this past winter, going 30-3 overall, which included an undefeated district title. They reached the UIL Class 6A Region II Semifinals.
However, they were ultimately thwarted by the eventual State Champs Duncanville, in a tight 48-40 defeat, clearly fueling them for this season.
“I don’t want to go back into the locker room like we did last year,” Mitchell said. “I hated the feeling after what happened in Round 4. If we want to improve on last year’s result, we need to take everything seriously, whether it be in practice or the classroom. There’s some unfinished business here, so it’s going to be about going hard every rep, and doing what we need to do.”
Given the unquestionable talent returning for coach Taneisha Rogers in 2024 – particularly Mitchell and South Carolina-commit Ayla McDowell – it’s likely that the vision they’ve set for themselves might very well come to fruition.
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