Top Recruits Sarah Strong, Joyce Edwards Lead East Over West In Mcdonald's Girls' Basketball Game

East guard Zam Jones celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the first quarter of the McDonald's All American girls' basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
East guard Zam Jones celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the first quarter of the McDonald's All American girls' basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
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HOUSTON (AP) — Sarah Strong, the top-ranked girls’ basketball recruit for the class of 2024 who has not yet committed to a college, had 11 points and 12 rebounds in the East team’s 98-74 win over the West on Tuesday night in the McDonald’s All-American game.

Strong, a 6-foot-2 forward from Grace Christian School in North Carolina, is the No. 1-ranked recruit in the espnW Class of 2024 recruiting rankings. She said she hopes to make a commitment decision in the next week or so.

Strong was voted co-MVP of the game with East teammate and No. 2-ranked recruit Joyce Edwards, a 6-2 forward from Camden High School in South Carolina who has committed to play for South Carolina. Edwards scored 19 points.

“When you think about it, these are the girls that you’re going to get drafted with and you’re going to be sisters with and you’re going to college with them,” Edwards said. “It’s making memories and establishing a foundation for us to build a relationship into something much further into the future.”

Also for the East, North Carolina State commit Zam Jones and Vanderbilt commit Mikayla Blakes both had 13 points, Michigan commit Syla Swords had 12, USC commit Kayleigh Heckel had nine and Notre Dame commit Kate Koval added eight.

For the West team, USC commit Kennedy Smith had 15 points and Me’Arah O’Neal had 12 points and six rebounds. O’Neal, a 6-4 center from Episcopal High School in Houston who has committed to Florida, is the daughter of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

Allie Ziebell, a 5-11 guard from Neenah High School in Wisconsin and No. 4-ranked recruit who has committed to play at UConn, won the 3-point contest on Monday night and added eight points for the West. Texas commit Justice Carlton also had eight points.

The East team took a 32-19 lead after the first quarter and led 50-34 at halftime.