Riverdale's Anastasia Hayes named McDonald's All-American
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Riverdale senior basketball standout Anastasia Hayes was named a McDonald's All-American on Sunday evening.
Hayes, a Tennessee signee, will be one of 24 players participating in the prestigious game, which showcases the top seniors in the country. She will be a member of the East squad.
"This is a big honor," said Hayes, who is also on the Naismith Midseason Watch list. "This is what I've been working on all my life. I'm blessed and excited to be a McDonald's All-American."
She is the only girls player from Tennessee named to the team, which was announced on ESPNU.
Tennessee signees Rennia Davis (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Kasiyahna Kushkituah (Alpharetta, Ga.) are on the East team with Hayes. Another signee, Evina Westbrook (Salem, Ore.), is on the West team
The girls and boys games will be played on March 29 at United Center in Chicago and shown on ESPNU.
It is the 40th year for the All-American boys game and the 16th year for the girls contest.
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Hayes follows former Blackman and current UConn standout Crystal Dangerfield in being named to the girls squad. Dangerfield played in last year's contest.
"I've played with some of the (McDonald's All-Americans) and against most of them," Hayes said. "It will be challenging, but fun and exciting, to play in the game."
The 5-foot-7 point guard, who was a Miss Basketball finalist last season, is averaging more than 20 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals per contest.
Her defending Class AAA state champion Lady Warriors are off to a 15-0 start and are ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today Super 25 nationally. Riverdale knocked off the nation's eighth-ranked team (Norcross, Ga.) 69-50 on Saturday.
ESPN ranks Hayes as ninth overall and fifth among point guards in the nation.
Reach Cecil Joyce at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
