RBC’s Addy Nyemchek Selected to Play in the 2026 McDonald’s All-American Game

It is an honor that only a select few have the privilege of achieving. The McDonald’s All-American game gathers a handful of the best high school basketball players in the country to compete in an East vs West all-star game. Out of the best high school seniors playing basketball this season, Addy Nyemcheck from Red Bank Catholic was one of the 24 elite players selected to the 2026 iteration of the game game set to be played at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. 

New Jersey has always been a hotbed of talent for girls basketball with the Shore Conference being widely as one of the top conference’s in the country. In the Class A North division, teams are going up against some of the best players, teams, and coaches multiple times a week. Being named to an All-State team in New Jersey is a tremendous accomplishment but, being named a McDonald’s All-American is perhaps the most difficult achievement to obtain

“Being named to the McDonald’s All-American Team is a dream come true and such an honor,”  Nyemchek said. “To be a part of this group of amazing athletes is very special and I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity. When I was younger, I honestly never imagined I’d be on a national stage like this. I always had big dreams of achieving these goals, but I truly never thought it was possible. To go from someone who never thought this would happen to being here now is surreal.”

In a day and age where everyone looks at how many points a player scores, Nyemchek’s journey to the All-American team had a tougher road. Playing for Red Bank Catholic means the team comes first and personal statistics take a back seat. Nyemchek currently has 1,550 career points, a 14 points-per-game average, which pales in comparison to elite players from other states like fellow All-American Maddyn Greenway, who just scored her 5,000th career point in Minnesota in what is now her sixth year of varsity basketball. The NJSIAA does not permit its athletes to begin playing high school basketball until they enter high school. From a career statistics standpoint, New Jersey players are often at a major disadvantage compared to players in other states that may begin playing varsity basketball in middle school. 

“It’s great. Not an easy honor to achieve,” Red Bank Catholic head coach Joe Montano said. “With the focus on scoring and stats it’s great that the committee rewards a kid that plays the game correctly.”

Playing the game correctly is exactly how Nyemchek carries herself on and off the court. The fans get rewarded with her great plays on game day, but they do not see the hard work behind the scenes and the amount of hours that was put in to achieve this honor. 

Nyemchek, who is committed to Indiana University, becomes the second Casey to be selected for the McDonald’s All-American game, joining Justine Pissott, who graduated in 2022. Pissott played her freshman season at the University of Tennessee and then transferred to rival University of Vanderbilt. She is currently in her senior season averaging 11.5 points-per-game for the Commodores, who are ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll. 

“Like Justine, a tireless and disciplined work ethic to be the very best every day” said Coach Montano on what separates the Pissotts and Nyemcheks compared to others. “Most kids don’t have the discipline or desire to work at that level.”

Special players like Nyemchek are hungry to improve and help everyone around them improve. She entered RBC four years ago with five other freshmen and set the tone for the following four years with a Shore Conference Championship and a Non-Public A State Title. 

“My teammates at RBC have meant so much to me on this journey,” Nyemchek said. For the most part, I have been playing with these girls since 8th grade and can proudly call them my sisters. Through all the ups and downs of the journey, they have always been on my side. They are amazing teammates that I was able to thrive off of. The good and bad memories will last a lifetime and have definitely shaped me as a player. I am so proud of each and every one of my teammates and cannot wait to see them do such amazing things.”

Nyemchek will be playing in the Big Ten for Head Coach Teri Moren at Indiana University next year. Her commitment helped the Hoosiers, who are currently 12-11, finish with a top ten recruiting class for 2026-27. They currently have the second highest rated recruiting class in the Big 10. 

“It is a blessing to coach Addy because her basketball IQ is so great,” Coach Montano said.  “She understands what and when her team needs from her to win the game. Some kids see that but don’t have the ability to make the correct play. Addy has both, which is very rare in today’s game. Indiana is getting a culture building player. A player who will live winning values every day.”

While Nyemchek will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 31st, Addy and her teammates having far more pressing matters in the meantime. The Caseys will look to clinch no worse than a share of the Class A North division title against Manasquan on Thursday followed by a tilt with Pennsylvania power Cardinal O’Hara on Saturday. Then the Caseys, who are tracking to be one of the top two seeds in the Shore Conference Tournament along with rival St. John Vianney, will look to repeat as champions. After that, the ultimate goal will be a Non-Public A State Championship in what is perhaps one of the most difficult brackets in the country.