Recruit severely hurt in July crash inks Iowa LOI

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 staff Wednesday.

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

The motive force, Michael Hurley, was indicted by a grand jury in August and charged with one rely of homicide, two counts of first-degree assault, one rely of assault within the fourth diploma and one rely of working a motorcar below the affect. In accordance 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 in depth hospital stays in Louisville. Jones returned to Nickerson Excessive in October for her senior yr. 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 stay up for 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 am going to be capable to, however I do not know. However even when I am not in a position to, I’ll nonetheless be across the staff. I like the Iowa staff 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 at the moment, as a result of this was his dream, too. This was our aim collectively.”

Jones is ready to stroll, and her speech has significantly improved as she has labored with a therapist. Over the subsequent a number of months, she can 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 academics have 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 all the things the neighborhood has accomplished 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 blissful 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 will do that. We’re gonna preserve 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 could 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 telephone Wednesday.

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

Jensen stated that she has been amazed at Jones’ progress

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

“I’d not wager in opposition to her after what that household’s been by way of, with that resolve they’ve proven. There have been lumps in our throats at the 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 couple of two-hour drive from Nickerson. Jones plans to be there to look at.

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