Boise senior named a McDonald’s All-American. She’s just the second in Idaho history

Michael Lycklama
·2 min read

Avery Howell has already received a mountain’s worth of awards and accolades. But she added the biggest one yet Tuesday.

The McDonald’s All-American Game selected the Boise High senior for its 2024 all-star game, making her just the second player in Idaho history chosen for the nation’s top high school basketball showcase.

Only 24 of the country’s best boys and girls basketball players made the cut. ESPN announced the roster selections Tuesday on its “NBA Today” broadcast.

“I had a pretty good feeling about it, but seeing my name was pretty exciting,” Howell said. “It’s still pretty surreal. It hasn’t really hit me yet.”

Boise senior Avery Howell was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game in April. She’s just the second player in state history to make the all-star game after Mountain View grad Destiny Slocum.
Boise senior Avery Howell was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game in April. She’s just the second player in state history to make the all-star game after Mountain View grad Destiny Slocum.

Howell, a 5-foot-11 guard, has rocketed onto the national scene in the past year. ESPN ranks her as a 5-star recruit and the No. 23 prospect in the nation. She signed with USC in November as part of the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, and she’ll play with two future teammates in the all-star game April 2 in Houston.

The reigning 5A All-Idaho and all-class Gatorade player of the year has put up monster numbers for Boise again this season, averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game entering Tuesday’s regular-season finale. She has shot 52% from the floor (126-for-243) and 50% behind the 3-point line (59-for-118) to secure the Brave back-to-back regular-season titles in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference.

“Coming from Idaho, I don’t think a lot of people know who I am or how I play,” Howell said. “So I’m just excited to show my passion and my game.

“I honestly don’t even know what to expect yet. My mom got an email with all the details, but I haven’t seen it. I just know I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m from Idaho.”

Mountain View grad Destiny Slocum was the first Idahoan selected for the McDonald’s All-American Game, making it in 2016. She later played 24 games in the WNBA. Former Meridian, Centennial and Rocky Mountain girls basketball coach Emery Roy also coached in the game in 2015.

“I’m super happy that I’m the next one in Idaho,” Howell said. “I train a lot of little girls, and they can set goals trying to be that. They can have these big goals because I had these big goals.”