MacArthur girls basketball's Meaghan Campbell is Newsday's Athlete of the Week

While the MacArthur girls' basketball team is chasing its first undefeated season and county title, senior forward Meaghan Campbell is making history of her own.

Before the season, Campbell knew she had a chance to become a 1,000-point scorer her senior year, so coach Dave Radke made sure to make that goal obtainable.

"That was my biggest concern going into the year, making sure she got it," he said. "That was our last home game for a while. It was a big relief because she put in a ton of work, and I'm so proud of her. She deserves it."

During senior night, the Generals (18-0, 10-0 Nassau AA-I) defeated Great Neck South, 73-39, last Thursday, when Campbell scored 16 points and reached 1,000 for her career, earning her Newsday Athlete of the Week honors. Campbell got her 1,000th point off an assist from her sister, Cara, making the moment even more special.

"I put her sister in because I thought it would be a cool moment," Radke said. "She practices basketball 365 days a year, to see her get this accomplishment meant everything."

"This is something I was definitely striving for," Campbell said. "It was a special moment that (Radke) was able to create for us, and I'm glad it all worked out because it's a memory I'll hold on to longer than getting 1,000."

Campbell became the first player in the program's history to have 1,000 rebounds and the second player to score 1,000, joining Beth Hein-Seder, who graduated in 1993. Campbell became the first player in MacArthur history to have 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

"I don't think that record will ever be broken," Radke said. "She makes my job a lot easier as a coach, because she is so talented and her basketball IQ is very high."

In addition to her performances on the court, Campbell holds a 105 GPA and was named the school's valedictorian for her senior class.

"I'm up every night studying, I always have a book in my hands," Campbell said. "It's likely that you'll find me in my seat on the bus to an away game doing a homework assignment."

Campbell is part of the Challenger basketball club, Athletes Helping Athletes, in multiple National Honor Society clubs, coaches basketball at youth clinics, and plans events at her local parish.

"Everything that I do has taught me that I need to focus on helping other people," Campbell said. "I always think about the work I do and how it will impact people's lives."

Campbell will attend Vassar College, where she will play D-III basketball as well as double-major in neuroscience and behavior and psychology, with the hope of becoming a neuropsychologist in the near future.

"I probably spend more time in the research room than anywhere else in the building," Campbell said. "I love crafting experiments. It's something I've grown to love, and it's shaped what I want to do in my future. I want to continue doing research as long as I can."

By Jonathan Ruban

jonathan.ruban@newsday.com

Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.