Palm Bay High's Emma Risch in McDonald's All-America game Tuesday
Emma Risch of Palm Bay High will become the first Brevard County basketball player in the McDonald's All-America Game when she takes the court Tuesday at the Toyota Center in Houston.
A Notre Dame signee, Risch and her fellow McDonald's All-America girls team members play at 6:30 p.m., televised by ESPN2. The 24 girls and 24 boys chosen to play in the two games came from among 722 nominees to participate in the event that benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities. The rosters were announced January 24.
Risch will play for the East team along with the other selectee from Florida, Taliah Scott of Jacksonville's St. John's Country Day, who will play in college for the University of Arkansas.
Risch said Monday in Houston that the experience of playing "with the best players in the country," has been like a reward as she makes the transition from high school to college.
"I'm not at that next level yet, but I'm on my way," she said, "just in the gym and getting better, working toward that."
'I'm lovin' it!' Emma Risch of Palm Bay makes history with McDonald's All-America Game selection
Risch completed her Brevard career with 2,767 points with 569 made 3-point shots, going back to the seventh grade. She played three years with the Pirates following three seasons at Florida Prep. Her Falcons teams won FHSAA Class 2A championships in 2019 and 2020.
At Palm Bay, Risch helped lead the team to its best season ever, a Class 5A runner-up finish in 2021. She was the FLORIDA TODAY Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2022. She also was selected for the All-Space Coast Girls Basketball Team of the Decade for 2010-19.
The McDonald's All-America Game is part of the week's activities surrounding the NCAA Men's Final Four, which will be played April 1 and 3 at NRG Stadium. The girls games have been played since 2002.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay girls basketball's Risch plays in McDonald's All-America Game
