Ava Jones, a rising high school senior in Kansas who made a verbal commitment to the Iowa women’s basketball team on Sunday, was seriously injured along with her parents when she was hit by a car in Louisville on Tuesday night.
The family was there for the Run 4 The Roses girls basketball tournament, Jones was playing with her club team. They were hit by a vehicle on the sidewalk. The driver who hit him, Michael Hurley, is charged with four counts of first-degree assault and driving under the influence. He told police he had recently taken hydrocodone.
Jones was said to be in critical condition and his parents, Amy and Trey Jones, were in critical condition. One of Jones’s younger brothers was treated for a minor injury. According to Billy Watson of the Hutchinson News in Kansas, Jones’ grandmother said Jones is expected to recover, although her injuries have not been made public.
Jones’ AAU coach Austin Johnson told ESPN in a text message on Wednesday, “All we can say right now is that the family needs prayer.
Jones, a 6-foot-2 wing player, is ranked 83rd on the ESPN HoopGurlz Top 100 Prospects list for the 2023 class. He averaged 20.8 points, 15.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Nickerson High School in Kansas last season.
Jones was initially committed to the state of Arizona, but reopened after longtime Sun Devils coach Charlie Turner Thorne retired in March. Jones announced his commitment to Iowa on social media on Sunday. A spokesman for Iowa told ESPN that since he had not signed with the Hookies, the school could not comment on Jones’ situation.