February 23, 2006
Adrian McGowen, the nation?™s all-time leading girls high school scoring leader and a Texas A&M signee, has been named to the 2006 McDonald?™s All-American High School Basketball Team, it was announced Thursday.
McGowen, from Goodrich (Texas) High School, is the first female player signed by A&M to be named a McDonald?™s All-American. Previously, three men?™s players received the honor: Jerald Brown (1996), Tyren Naulls (1978), and Rudy Woods (1978).
?This helps Texas A&M because it?™s our first McDonald?™s All-American,? A&M coach Gary Blair said. ?To be from a small town like Goodrich and not be on the summer AAU circuit, it?™s a great tribute to Adrian and to the McDonald?™s All-American committee.?
McGowen scored a record 5,381 points during four seasons at Goodrich High School for coach Pinellafie Gilford. Goodrich reached the area round of the Class A playoffs this season.
?It shows that kids can accomplish anything they want in life,? Blair said. ?No matter how small the town and no matter how limited your summer opportunities may be, if a kid can play they deserve the chance to play at the highest level like at Texas A&M and in the McDonald?™s All-American game.?
This season, McGowen averaged 37 points a game after averaging 54 points a game as a junior.
McGowen is one of six McDonald?™s All-Americans signed to attend Big 12 Conference schools next fall.