Wednesday was a good day to be Paige Bueckers.
Hopkins senior Paige Bueckers scores a magazine first for Slam
She is the first high school girls' basketball player treated that prominently.
January 30, 2020 at 5:17AM
The Hopkins star became the first high school girl to be featured on the cover of Slam magazine, a national basketball publication.
The Connecticut-bound senior is the top-ranked player in the nation in the class of 2020, according to HoopGurlz, a national recruiting website.
Slam calls her "the most electrifying high school player in the world.''
In a Twitter post Wednesday, Bueckers wrote, "I never want to let all this attention get to my head, but I do want to use my platform to inspire and be a great role model for girls and hoopers watching.''
Bueckers, a 5-11 guard, is trying to lead the Royals to a second consecutive undefeated season and Class 4A state championship.
Later on Wednesday, Bueckers and her Hopkins teammates were invited to a McDonald's restaurant near their high school to honor her recent selection for the McDonald's All-American Game on April 1 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Last year, Bueckers was named the Female Athlete of the Year by USA Basketball.
She led Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup and the Royals to a 32-0 record.
Hopkins beat Minnetonka 81-53 on Tuesday for its 18th straight win this season and 50th a row.
PAUL KLAUDA
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Darius Taylor, who led the Gophers in rushing last season, missed the Aug. 29 opener and was questionable this week leading up to Saturday’s game.
