Raylee McDonald '23 Recruiting Profile

I first picked up a basketball at the age of 12 during a summer camp, and as soon as I did my first lay-up I quickly fell in love with the sport. I remember my first basketball coach, Brad Armstrong, asked me what I wanted to do after I finished high school.  He had been coaching me for about 6 months and told me that I could take my basketball to any heights, as long as I was willing to work for it.  

 I grew up in Australia playing netball, aussie rules and surfing at the local beaches. At the age of 12 I quickly developed my basketball skills through personal coaching. I competed in club and area games, joined a travelling team and represented Western Australia in the Under 14' s National Championships. 

 I moved to Texas with my family when I was 14. It was a huge shock to me- everything was new, and I didn't know anyone. But I overcame adversity and made friends on my basketball teams as well at school. It was really tough leaving all my friends behind, but this change has helped me see my inner strengths - I am resilient, a hard worker and I don't shy away from adversity.

 The education system is different here. I had to skip half a year of school to stay on my educational path. But I have been able to keep my grades up. In the off-season I like to run track. It helps me stay fit and healthy, plus I get to be outdoors! 

I will be graduating from All Saints' Episcopal School in Fort Worth 2023, with a 3.7 GPA.  I love to run the court and play at a fast pace. I have learnt a lot of different defense strategies while playing in the U.S. and feel that defense is one of my strengths. Under the guidance of my coach, Tracey Stellato, I have added many offensive skills to my repertoire. She has taught me to play tough and instilled a mental toughness in me, while guiding me to care for my teammates as a co-team captain.

My hope is that I can earn a Psychology Degree while playing basketball for a team that I take pride in.