Bay Area basketball star chosen to play in McDonald’s All-American game

Heritage’s Amanda Muse was one of four California high school girls basketball players — and the only one from the Bay Area — selected on Tuesday to play in the McDonald’s All-American game.

Muse, a 6-foot-4, UCLA-bound senior, is averaging 15.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game this season and recently scored her 1,000th career high school point.

The announcement, naturally, brought thrills to the Brentwood campus, which never had a McDonald’s All-American.

Heritage athletic director Nate Smith, who submitted the nomination, said that as he read an email about Muse being selected, the star player and two of her senior teammates burst into his office already having received the good news.

“It was her teammates that were so happy and excited for her and wanted to make sure I knew right away,” Smith said. “To see the big smiles on her teammates’ faces shows you that not only is she an outstanding player but she’s truly regarded as an outstanding teammate and just somebody who has been an outstanding person with them.”

Twenty-four girls and 24 boys, including LeBron James’ son, Bronny, were chosen to play in the games scheduled to be held on March 28 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Muse will be on a West team that will feature USC-bound Judea Watkins of defending Open Division state champion Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth, as well as two players from San Diego’s La Jolla Country Day, Breya Cunningham and Jada Williams, both committed to Arizona.

Smith spoke highly about Muse’s tireless drive to work, in both basketball and water polo and as a student.

“She’s not that athlete that ever wants to take a break at all,” Smith said. “If anything, at times she overworks herself. That’s just her mentality. She’s going to put forth an amazing effort at all times and I think that is recognized.”

Not only has Muse excelled in athletics — she’s received multiple first-team all-league honors in basketball and water polo — but she’s also above a 4.0 grade-point average student.

“When I put the nomination a couple of months ago, I was thinking, ‘OK, she’s got a shot,'” Smith said. “But nationwide, it’s so hard to get that kind of recognition. I think it really speaks volumes to her work ethic and how much she’s dedicated herself to being a well-rounded student-athlete.”