FORT WORTH – Fort Worth Dunbar girls basketball coach Andrea Robinson caught Brooklyn Pope scribbling on a chalkboard during Pope's freshman year and couldn't believe what she saw.

Pope was practicing her autograph.

"She's a freshman, and she had her own signature," recalled Robinson. "I'm conservative, so my assistant would tell me, 'Coach she's destined for greatness.' "

The prediction turned out to be real.

Over the last four years, Pope helped Dunbar win two state championships, affirmed the program as one of Texas' elite and brought unprecedented attention to the community.

Pope takes her star power to the national stage tonight in the McDonald's All-American game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. She will be joined by Kennedale's Destini Hughes on the West team. North Crowley's Willie Warren will play in the boys game.

"I'm real happy about the accomplishment," Pope said at a recent gathering with Hughes and Warren, while she – you guessed it – signed autographs.

Following the McDonald's All-American game, and soon, graduation, Pope (6-2) heads to New Jersey, where she will play at Rutgers.

Her humble beginnings on the concrete playgrounds of Fort Worth defined the type of player she has become.

Pope couldn't buy her way into a pick-up game with her two older brothers. But when they were a player short, Brooklyn got the nod, and outplayed everyone. She was never denied again.

Her parents, Janice and Tony Pope, figured they were on to something.

"We're just ordinary people who were blessed with a child with some talent," Janice said. "Her dad saw it when she was young and pursued it."

Pope developed fearlessness on the court, especially on the AAU circuit as she outdueled older players.

Her body grew rapidly, and by eighth grade, she was 5-11 – and dunking the ball.

At Dunbar, Pope was an instant hit as a freshman. She was involved in a play at the 2005 state tournament that is still talked about, when she went up for a dunk against Lincoln.

"It was just by the grace of God. It was meant for me to get that highlight, that fame," Pope said. "It was just me and the goal."

Although she missed the dunk, the crowd went ballistic.

Pope and Dunbar returned to the state tournament the next two seasons. Meanwhile, colleges began their pursuit, and Pope signed with Rutgers in November.

"Brooklyn saw in us, I hope, far more than just winning and losing basketball games," Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "I think Brooklyn saw an opportunity to become the successful young woman that she is destined to be."

Pope's high school era is coming to a close. Her presence, though, will live on.

"She has taken the Dunbar program to a whole new level," Robinson said. "Through Brook, a lot of kids will be blessed."Coming Thursday

The boys basketball All-Area team will be unveiled in Thursday's High School GameTime.

McDonald's All-American basketball games. Girls at 6 p.m. today (ESPNU); boys 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)