PEABODY — Bishop Fenwick girls basketball standout Cecilia Kay is one of six Massachusetts girls recently nominated for a chance to play in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games.
Originally founded by Bob Geoghan as the Capital Classic, the games feature the best and brightest high school boys and girls in the United States. Its website describes the games as the “pinnacle” of high school basketball.
This year, 729 players from 43 states were selected as nominees. Of that group, 24 girls and 24 boys will be selected to represent their respective regions in the East versus West All-Star games. Some of the most iconic basketball stars have played in the games, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Candace Parker.
Proceeds from the games benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities and RMHC programs.
This year’s games will be played on Tuesday, April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The games will be televised with the girls airing on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. and boys following at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Bishop Fenwick head coach Adam DeBaggis said Kay, a two-time Crusader captain and American University women’s basketball commit, is the first person he has ever nominated.
“Her playing skills are amazing because she is 6-2 and can do everything on the basketball court,” DeBaggis said. “She could (and does sometimes) play point guard for us, play post, guard the best player… Everything.”
DeBaggis added Kay is the “epitome of someone that leads by example. Every drill of every practice she does to the best of her ability, but also does it correctly because she is so coachable. She, also, has really grown as a leader with her words. I am very confident that if we had to play a game without coaches, the team would still be successful because of her leadership.”
For her part, Kay, who played one year of varsity at Arlington Catholic before transferring to Fenwick, said she was not aware that she is the first person nominated by DeBaggis.
“Since coming to Fenwick and being able to work with coach DeBaggis, and to know that he thought enough to nominate me, was super special,” said Kay, adding she is especially proud that she is the only nominee from an MIAA member school.
“I am very familiar with the other girls who were nominated and to know that I’m in their company is very rewarding as they are all good players at some very elite prep schools. It’s just awesome to be in their company.”
Kay said she knows the final 48 players will be selected in the next week or so, but that’s not her priority.
“I’m focused on my team and the big games coming up,” she said. “Our Senior Night game is next Friday against Arlington Catholic. Our only loss is to Bishop Feehan and we play them on Jan. 29, so we’ll be looking for some revenge then, and we also have a rematch coming up with St. Mary’s, so my focus is on those big games. Yes, it would be great to be a finalist, but my allegiance is to Fenwick right now.”
DeBaggis said Kay is incredibly well-rounded, but on the court, is all business.
“She is a great athlete with a great work ethic, a great student, likely the class valedictorian,” DeBaggis said. “She’s just a great human being with a great sense of humor. She and Colleen Corcoran are the two best players I’ve ever had. If they had to, they would put the entire team on their backs and carry them through hell.”
“When the team found out about the (MIAA) postseason suspension, Cecilia sent a message to her teammates even before I knew what to say and I couldn’t have said it any better,” DeBaggis said. “She encouraged them to take out their anger and disappointment on the world, basically telling them that we’re taking it out on every opponent.”
Regarding the suspension, Kay said she believes everything happens for a reason.
“We all talked about it at the beginning of the year and realized not being able to play in the tournament and win a state championship is out of our hands. The only thing we can do is take it to them and prove we are one of the best teams in the state. We wanted to let everyone know what we can do as a team, so that’s what we are doing every day.”
Kay learned the McDonald’s news on Jan. 9, the same day her Crusaders defeated archrival St. Mary’s for the first time since 2019. Kay shared the good news on her X (formerly Twitter) account the same day, posting, “Super cool to be McDonald’s All-American Nominee! It’s been a super fun year and I can’t wait to keep it going with my team!”
