Iowa commit Ava Jones — Felt ‘like my dad was with me right this moment’

NICKERSON, Kan. — Simply over 4 months after she was severely injured and her father was killed after being struck by a automotive, Ava Jones signed a nationwide letter of intent for the Iowa girls’s basketball crew Wednesday.

Jones, 17, suffered a traumatic mind damage, torn ligaments in each knees and a shoulder damage when an impaired driver hit her and her household on a Louisville sidewalk on July 5, whereas there for an AAU event. Her father, Trey Jones, died just a few days later and her mom, Amy Jones, suffered a mind damage and 21 damaged bones. Her youthful brother, Creek, escaped severe damage.

The motive force, Michael Hurley, was indicted by a grand jury in August and charged with one depend of homicide, two counts of first-degree assault, one depend of assault within the fourth diploma and one depend of working a motorcar beneath the affect. In line with the police report, Hurley stated he had taken the opioid Hydrocodone earlier than driving.

Jones, a 6-foot-2 ahead who was ranked 83rd by ESPN HoopGurlz for the Class of 2023, initially dedicated to Arizona State however then decommitted in March after coach Charli Turner Thorne retired. Jones reopened her recruiting and introduced her dedication to Iowa on July 3, two days earlier than the crash.

Each Jones and her mom had intensive hospital stays in Louisville. Jones returned to Nickerson Excessive in October for her senior 12 months. In regular circumstances, she would have performed volleyball this fall, and her final season of highschool basketball would begin subsequent week.

She stated Wednesday’s signing has been one thing to look ahead to with the difficulties she and her household have confronted.

“It felt actually good to have signed; it really feels extra actual,” Jones stated. “I wish to play basketball once more. Hopefully, I will be capable of, however I do not know. However even when I am not in a position to, I’ll nonetheless be across the crew. I really like the Iowa crew and the coaches.

“The help I’ve gotten from everybody has given me much more momentum to get higher. I really feel like my dad was with me right this moment, as a result of this was his dream, too. This was our objective collectively.”

Jones is ready to stroll, and her speech has tremendously improved as she has labored with a therapist. Over the following a number of months, she could have surgical procedure on each knees and on her shoulder.

Amy Jones has undergone a number of surgical procedures and is ready to stroll with the help of a walker.

The Jones’ prolonged household, pals, teammates, coaches, college students and lecturers had been on the Nickerson Excessive cafeteria for the signing. Trey Jones had been a trainer and a observe coach on the college.

“The quantity of people that got here out to help Ava is so particular, as is every part the group has performed for us,” stated Amy Jones, who cannot drive but however has been in a position to return to work remotely as assistant superintendent within the Nickerson college district. “It is good to see her completely satisfied and fulfilling a dream. She’s been there for me, as a result of once I begin getting down, she’s going to say, ‘OK, Mother, we are able to do that. We’re gonna maintain going.’ She is simply so decided and pushed.”

Iowa assistant coach Jan Jensen stated that there was no hesitation from the college or head coach Lisa Bluder that Jones’ scholarship can be honored.

“Coach Bluder stated, ‘She’s a Hawk, she’s ours, she’s household. She’s going to be with us,'” Jensen stated by cellphone Wednesday.

“As soon as she is right here, we’ll have her doing each a part of the crew stuff that she will presumably do. Once we’re studying the offense, she’ll be studying it. We would like her to be included in every part.”

Jensen stated that she has been amazed at Jones’ progress

“Ava and I discuss each couple days,” Jensen stated. “As her mind began to heal, it was an excellent factor, but additionally a tough factor when she started to completely understand the lack of her father. I knew there can be this large void that Trey wasn’t there right this moment. However in speaking together with her, she knew this second was one thing that they had all been working for.

“I’d not wager in opposition to her after what that household’s been by means of, with that resolve they’ve proven. There have been lumps in our throats right this moment with this signing; we’re past thrilled.”

On Nov. 17, the No. 4 Hawkeyes will play Nov. 17 at Kansas State in Manhattan, which is a few two-hour drive from Nickerson. Jones plans to be there to observe.

“I may surrender, however I am actually simply not that kind of individual,” Jones stated. “And my dad was not that method, both. I do not know another method however to maintain going. So possibly it is simply in my DNA.”