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6 Days Until the State Boys Basketball Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Girls Basketball - Massachusetts

Gatorade Player of the year

Fope Ayo

Center
AUSTIN PREP
READING, MASSACHUSETTS
SENIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-5
Press Release

Peak Performance

22.3

Average points (per game)

17.3

Average rebounds (per game)

4.1

Average blocks (per game)
“Fope is certainly an impact player. She’s an intimidating defensive presence on the second line of Austin Prep's zone defense, and has learned to use her body and length effectively to convert scoring opportunities on the blocks. From all of my interactions with her (games over the past four years and observations during AAU practices), I found her to be a high-character young woman.”
Gregor Mackechnie
Head Coach - Proctor Academy

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-5 senior center averaged 22.3 points, 17.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks this past season, becoming the first player in Austin Prep history to eclipse both 1,000 career points and rebounds. Ayo was the New England Basketball Journal’s 2024-25 Class AA Defensive Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American Game nominee this year. She is ranked as the nation’s No. 45 recruit in the Class of 2026 by ESPN. 

Academic Achievement

Ayo has maintained an A average in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play basketball at the University of Michigan this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of Austin Prep’s student government and leadership council, Ayo has volunteered locally in association with the Unitas Leadership Academy, a faculty-nominated role in a program that features mentoring, community engagement, and skill development. She also founded Sweet Desserts, an initiative that bakes birthday cakes for incarcerated juveniles.