OAK BROOK, Ill. – Cougar signees Chanelle Molina, Katie Campbell, and Kayla Washington earned nominations as McDonald's All Americans, the organization announced this month.
Molina, a 5-9 guard from Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is a five-star recruit, according to ESPN.com, the No. 36 overall recruit for her class, and the 11th-best guard in the 2016 class. She currently plays at Konawaena High School, the same high school that current senior Dawnyelle Awa and former basketball student-athlete Lia Galdeira played at. This season, Molina has guided the Wildcats to a 20-1 overall record and unblemished 9-0 record in league play. As a junior, Konawaena and Molina finished with a 33-1 record and a state championship over soon-to-be-teammate, Cameron Fernandez and Lahainaluna High School. She averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 3.1 steals per game during the 2014-15 season. She also shot 57.9 percent from inside the arc.
Molina is a two-time Hawaii Gatorade Girls' Basketball Player of the Year, and won volleyball and basketball state championships as a sophomore and junior. As a freshman she was named the BIIF Division I Girls Basketball Player of the Year, repeating the honor during her sophomore season.
Campbell is a 6-0 guard from Oxnard, Calif. A four-time captain at Oaks Christian High School, she is a 3-point threat for the Lions, and made 77 shots from beyond the arc during her junior season. She also had 10 3-pointers in one game against Newbury Park. As a junior, the southpaw averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 steals, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. A first team all-CIF selection in 2014-15, Campbell shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range. Currently, the Lions boast a 13-5 record and a 4-0 record in conference play.
Last season, Campbell was the Marmonte League's MVP and Ventura County Star Player of the Year. She was also tabbed second team all-state for California's Division 4AA by MaxPreps. During her sophomore year she garnered first team all-area honors and was MVP of the Tri-Valley League. During her freshman season, Campbell was a member of the Tri-County League's first team.
Washington is a 6-0 forward from San Bernardino, Calif. As a four-year captain at Cajon High School, Washington has led the Cowgirls to three-straight Citrus Belt League Championships. This season, Cajon boasts a 14-4 record and a 6-0 record in league competitions. During her freshman season, she was named MVP of the Citrus Belt League, leading the team to a 27-1 record and the quarterfinals of the CIF Division II tournament, while averaging 17.3 points and 19.8 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Washington repeated as the league MVP and was named to the all-state sophomore team. Washington averaged 21.7 points and 15.4 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the floor. She was named to the all-CIF second team and the all-county first team.
During her junior season, Washington earned league MVP honors for a third-straight season, was named to the all-state junior team, and named the all-county player of the year. She was also selected for the all-CIF-SS First Team after scoring 39 points and pulling in 33 rebounds in a CIF Division I playoff game against Torrey Pines (San Diego). She averaged 28.1 points and 16.1 rebounds per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and notched 40 points on four separate occasions.
All three incoming freshmen, along with fellow signee Cameron Fernandez, will enroll at Washington State University beginning in the fall semester.