Another day, another All-American honor for Jennifer O’Neill.
The St. Michael Academy senior was named to the WBCA All-American team Monday and Thursday it was announced that she’ll participate in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game in Columbus, Ohio on March 31.
O’Neill said when she found out about the McDonald’s selection last month, she was in complete shock.
“I was speechless,” the Bronx native said. “My jaw hit the floor.”
The Kentucky-bound O’Neill led St. Mike’s to its first-ever New York State Federation Class AA title last season and has been perhaps the Eagles’ most consistent player this season. She dropped 40 points on Mount Vernon in a game last month and scored 18 on a twisted ankle in a loss to Colts Neck (N.J.) at the Kennedy Challenge on Jan. 24.
O’Neill was not highly touted coming into St. Mike’s. Eagles coach Apache Paschall, who also coaches her with the Exodus travel program, called her his programs’ greatest success story.
“Nobody thought that this would happen,” he said. “Not in a million years.”
O’Neill is the second straight Bronx girl to make the McDonald’s game after Manhattan Center’s China Crosby (Virginia) did it last year. Kia Vaughn, who starred at Rutgers and now plays for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, was the only other McDonald’s All-American to come out of St. Mike’s. O’Neill is just the 10th New York City player to make the girls game since it started in 2002.
North Babylon’s UConn-bound guard Bria Hartley, O’Neill’s teammate on Exodus NYC, will join her at the Value City Arena in Columbus. Maryland-bound forward Laurin Mincy of University (N.J.), UConn-bound forward Stefanie Dolson of Minisink Valley (N.Y.) and Duke-bound forward Haley Peters of The Peddie School (N.J.) will also be on the East squad.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m.
