In a big game what would you want from your best player? Energy and readiness right from the start. Pius got it from Markowski who attacked the basket early and was a menace on defense for the Bolts. She finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. The Omaha pledge will fit right in at the next level with her ability to get downhill with both hands as a lefty. She leads Pius in scoring with 13 points per game and adds 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.1 assists per contest.

Another hooper that is a D1 commit going to UNO is Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Pius X High School. Markowski, a 5’11 SG, is a natural at shoot the rock from deep. Doesn’t matter the situation, time on the clock, the play being ran, or any of that – if she has open space and good time, it’s usually going to be a good attempt. Coming off of another successful AAU season with ETG, Markowski is locked in for this upcoming season of high school ball and I don’t blame her. She is going to be looked upon to carry a lot of her team in reality so it’ll be nice to see how that unfolds moving forward.

Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Pius X locked in her committed to be a Division-1 player yesterday when she announced that she will be attending Omaha, starting in the Fall of 2026. Markowski comes into her senior season this Winter as a 5’11 SG. She primarily plays off of the ball and likes to produce as the 2 or the 3 within her team’s offenses. She can also handle it a little bit and she is a noteworthy defender when she is motivated. She beats her opponents to their stops and she isn’t afraid to get physical. She will mix it up with anyone and everyone. Which speaks to her aggressive edge when she competes. Pius X is going to to be looking at Markowski for a good amount of production over the next 8 months. As long as their system plays to that, it should be a fun season for everyone involved.

“D2 shooter with great size, length, and athletic ability. Someone that can heat up in a hurry when she see’s one of her first shots fall. Also someone that can be an X factor when used in the correct way. At this point in the season, W’s and L’s don’t matter, it’s about getting better and showing consistency. Markowski and company had glimpses of that all weekend long.”

One of the best on-ball defenders I have seen this AAU season is Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Elite 3SSB’] 17U. Markowski has a quick first step, natural athletic ability, she jumps to the ball at an impressive rate, and she happens to beat her opponent to their spot a good amount of the time. I know that Markowski also has a flame thrower for an arm from deep but in the contest I watched, she was making a difference defensively. Whether she noticed it or not. This is someone with D2 offers and I’m sure the list of those is going to grow as we move into Live Periods this season.

Some shots you never forget. Some shots are so monumental in your basketball journey that they become a staple as to who you are. Last night, we had one of those shots. With 12 seconds left in the game, Norris High School came down the floor, they ran a set, and they hit a 3 pointer to tie the game at 41 with 4 seconds remaining. From here, Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE did the rest. She quickly inbounded the ball, received it back, and she threw up an attempt from three quarters court – eventually swishing it in at the buzzer to send her team onto the next round of the Playoffs. Markowski is a prospect that would be considered a deadly shooter with size and versatility. She stands around 6’0 and her shooting stroke always looks identical, no matter where she is letting it go from. In this instance, she had to shoot it as more of a runner because of the distance but nevertheless, it went it and Pius X moves on.

Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Pius X High School is prepped to have the best season of basketball of her life after putting together a very successful AAU Summer/Spring campaign. What made it so successful for Markowski? For starters, her team won a lot of games and they all became better prospects while doing so. Secondly, she received three scholarship offers from D2 programs across the Midwest, with more on the way this Fall. Those offers were to NW Missouri State, Drury, and UNK. Like I said, with Markowski’s mixture of length, scoring ability, her willingness to adapt, and her ability to defend multiple positions, these are certainly not going to be the only offers she receives. She should grab some D1 programs interest before you know it but for now, she will move into the #14 spot in this 2026 Update.

With Halle Dolliver Halle Dolliver 5'10" | CG/SF Malcolm | 2026 State NE of ETG Midwest E 3SSB falling due to injury, other’s on the squad have had to step up to take her place in the production categories of scoring and rebounding. Someone who has done a seamless job of taking over the lead is SG, Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Pius X High School. Markowski’s mixture of length, shooting ability, and smarts makes for a tough basketball prospect as a whole. She has demonstrated time and time again that she is an Elite scorer of the ball, while being able to catch on fire from deep in a hurry. She can also put it on the floor and finish at the rim with or without contact with her coordination and body control. This past weekend, she has been her team’s leading scorer in almost every contest they competed in. Giving her momentum to carry into the future on the hardwood.

Pius X High School is filled with a bunch of interesting prospects while looking toward their future. They seem to have one or two really solid players at each position, who could step up in the blink of an eye if need be to help their cause. At the Forward spot, one of their prospects who has put together a respectable AAU season up until now is Ava Markowski Ava Markowski 5'11" | SG Pius X | 2026 State NE of Elite 3SSB’]. Markowski checks in at 5’11 and the #29 overall prospect in the state for this 2026 Class. This AAU season on a star studded team, she has done a consistent job of showing out in the little ways and she has done of good job of making the most of her opportunities that she is given, which is really all you can ask for. Pius X High School is going to be a team to keep an eye on moving into this next season. If everyone continues to put it together, they should see a good amount of success down the line.