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.
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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Center Dawson Garcia played despite a groin injury, and starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and four others were absent for the Gophers. Among the results: a 14-point first half.