Brittney Sykes Named to McDonald's All American Team

One of Newark's own has been named to the 2012 McDonald's All American Team, an elite girls basketball squad that features the nation's top talent.

Brittney Sykes, a senior at University High School, will join 23 other high school seniors for the 11th annual girls game in Chicago, Ill. on March 28. Sykes scored her 1,000 career point on Jan. 23 and has averaged 20 points per game this season.

"I'm looking forward to having fun playing with the other players," said Sykes in a statement. "We all play in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) circuit and this will be out last chance playing together before we go to college."

Ranked 30th in ESPN's HoopGurlz 100 recruiting ranking, the 5-9 senior, who at one point held up to 80 scholarship offers, signed a letter of intent to Syracuse University this fall. Sykes hopes to attend Syracuse's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, one of the leading communications schools in the country, and become an analyst for ESPN.

Besides winning on the court, Sykes has a prominent role filming, photographing and interviewing subjects as part of University's MSG Varsity Communications team, on which she's also served as a guest commentator. She also exceeded the 80-hour minimum of community service required for graduation.

"I am very happy for Brittney because being named to the McDonald’s All American team is a very prestigious honor," said Felicia Oliver, University's girls basketball coach. "She will be able to showcase her talents on a national stage and the school as well as the city of Newark are very proud of her and her achievements."

– Staff reports