The list of McDonald’s All-American nominees was released this week, and there was a familiar name among those chosen: Henderson County Lady Colonels senior guard A’Tylia Green. The recognition validates years of hard work and determination on and off the court for Green.
“I feel very thankful and glad that my name is even associated with it, even if I don’t get chosen for the game,” Green said of the accolade.
Green was chosen as a nominee alongside three other Kentuckians: Ashlinn James of Assumption, Brianna Wilkins of Sacred Heart, and Jaelyn Jones of Ryle. In the coming weeks, nominations will be narrowed down to the top 48 high school boys and girls in the country, 24 on each side. The date and location of the McDonald’s All-American Game have yet to be announced.
According to its website, nominations for the McDonald’s All-American team are reserved for seniors who have completed at least half of their season and are based on “an individual player’s fundamental skill level, basketball IQ, competitive motor, potential for continued growth and development, and athleticism.”
Nominees must be more than just athletes. Players are expected to demonstrate excellence on the court, in the classroom, and within their community. The three categories in which nominees are evaluated include athletic achievement, scholastic achievement, and behavior. According to those around Green, she was a no-brainer for this recognition.
“A’Tylia is one of those exceptional student-athletes that has that work ethic that you want everyone to put in. She’s great in the classroom with no issues at all,” said HCHS Athletic Director Nathan Grace. “We’re just blessed to have a great program that has top-to-bottom tremendous kids and she has just stepped up her game.”
Green, who has been an impact varsity player for the last three years, leads the Lady Cols this season with 16.2 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. As of January 27, she was the third-leading scorer in the Second Region and figures to be a candidate for Second Region Player of the Year. She joined the 1,000-point club in December and holds the HCHS single-season steals record with 130, a feat she achieved in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025. Green called it one of the proudest accomplishments of her career.
Head coach Stephen Haile was not surprised by Green’s nomination as he has been impressed with the growth she has shown during her time with the Lady Cols basketball team.
“It’s her attitude and her willingness not to ever quit, and those are just some things away from her skills,” Haile said. “She’s relentless and has a passion for basketball and wanting to get better and wanting to help her teammates out. What I like most about her is her relentless activity on the defensive end. There’s different things, on the court and off the court, that she does well, that she’s really grown into… It’s good PR for our program and even better PR for A’Tylia. We take wins like this as a team.”
Basketball has been an integral part of Green’s life since she was about four years old. From her younger days at the YMCA and Bend Gate Elementary to her time now as a varsity player, Green learned to love the game through success that she has enjoyed. She finds the game very rewarding because of all the work that she has put in and the people and friends that she has met during her career.
She describes her playing style as “fast-paced,” particularly enjoying using her defense as the catalyst to inject energy into her offensive game. She credits her coaches at Henderson for helping her develop her skills by accommodating their players’ needs. She also draws inspiration from watching one of her favorite players, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, who she says also plays based on her defense. Other players that Green mentioned as favorites are USC guard JuJu Watkins and NBA future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant.
Green also keeps family close to her heart, naming her mom, dad, uncle, aunts and grandmother as her biggest supporters. Part of her pregame routine includes touching the inside of her shoes to commemorate her grandpa and grandma, as well as one of her coaches who passed away when she was young.
The Lady Cols’ star player will continue her playing career at Kentucky State in the fall. While the thought of playing beyond college is enticing to her if the opportunity presents itself, she also has plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian, as she has always had a love for animals.
While the future is certainly important to Green, she is staying focused on the task at hand: winning another region championship and returning to the Sweet 16. When asked if she felt like her team was still the favorite to win the region and if she would be the player of the year, Green left no doubt.
“Yeah, I do,” she said of winning the region. “I strongly do, and I hope it stays that way this year.”
And on her aspirations for region player of the year, she said, “It is still a go for sure. I feel like I can do it. I just have to keep working on the stats.”
