Dalton’s Grace Ridley Humbled by McDonald’s All American Nomination

Dalton, GA-(WDEF-TV) Grace Ridley is one of the most decorated female athletes in Dalton history. This basketball season, the Dalton guard snagged her second region player of the year award.

But as News 12’s Brian Armstrong reports, it a nomination that Ridley received last month that blew her away.

Said Dalton head coach Hannah Harris: “Stat-line kind of speaks for itself. She’s always been a pretty prolific score.”

Dalton’s Grace Ridley has numerous accomplishments throughout her basketball career, but one high up on the list was being nominated to the McDonald’s all American team.

Said Ridley: :I was really excited. I actually saw it on some of my friends stories that I played travel with.”

When the nominations first came out, she didn’t even realize she made the team.

Said Ridley: “I think my coach might’ve sent it to me and she was like, he made on it. And like, I had no idea, like I went through it once and I was like, Oh, I guess I didn’t get on it. And I was just like, Oh, congratulations. Like tell my friends, congrats. And then I got it sent to me again. And I was like, Oh, I’m on it.

Said Harris: “We’ve built a pretty strong relationship, uh, she and I since she was a freshman, so, um, those are things, you know, she doesn’t look for, um, but, you know, to tell her and, and to have that relationship to be like, hey, you know, you, you’ve achieved this, this is another thing to add, you know, to your, to your belt, essentially, of, of high school accomplishments, um, and again, you know, she just takes it in stride”

And despite what some people think, it doesn’t mean she gets McDonald’s.

Said Ridley: ” And then I sent it to my family and like some people in my family didn’t really know what it was. And they were like, do you get free McDonald’s? And I was like, no, that’s not what that is. But my mom was super excited because she knew what it was.”

Given her level of play this season, her career, and her attitude, the coaching staff isn’t surprised she received this honor.

Said

Harris: “The thing that people don’t get to see is what she brings to our practice and her leadership and her ability to motivate and kind of elevate the level of play of her teammates around her. I think that really speaks to the quality of not only her character, but also to her as a player.”