MCKINNEY, Texas — Led by senior Kaelyn Hamilton, the McKinney North girls basketball team has its sight set on the state tournament.
"I think it gave us confidence," Hamilton said, referring to how last season ended.
In 2023, the Bulldogs fell short in the Class 5A Region II Final. They were one win away from the state semifinals. The core players of that team are now seniors. They're no longer inexperienced. No longer wide-eyed. Hamilton is the driving force.
The back-to-back district MVP has scored more than 2,000 points in her high school career and holds the McKinney North girls hoops records for career points and assists.
Averaging more than 20 points and three assists per game as a senior, Hamilton is a near-lock to win the District MVP award for a third straight year.
"I have so many people that support me," Hamilton said, noting her teammates, the school and her family.
This winter, the San Diego State commit was named a McDonald's All-American nominee.
"I just looked through the list and saw my name and was like, 'Oh my gosh!'" Hamilton said of the national recognition. "I was so excited to see that because it feels good to be seen for the work you put in."
Hamilton has put in the work since kindergarten.
"Kaelyn's always been able to dribble the basketball in the house. I've never told her no," admitted Veronica Reed-Hamilton, Kaelyn's mother. "In the backyard shooting, whether it was with me, her dad, her cousins, her brother. I think her love [for basketball] really grew from those kind of things."
Veronica always had a front row seat to see her daughter play, especially at McKinney North -- where she's been the head girls basketball coach for the last seven years.
"She's made me better. She's helped me grow," Veronica said of Kaelyn. "The way he she just goes about things. Her being humble. It makes me proud."
Kaelyn shared the positive sentiment, "Being able to do this all with my mom is honestly unbelievable."
Veronica played college basketball at UT-Arlington. In a matter of months, Kaelyn will leave home to join the Division I women's basketball program at SDSU.
Until then, mother and daughter are doing what they can to enjoy this final season together. And they hope, this time, it ends with a state championship.
"That's the goal," Kaelyn smiled. "That is the goal.”
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