Mersinger more than makes up for her size with her speed and ability to be a high-level scoring guard. To continue making an impact at the next level, her ability to create for others will be something coaches watch closely in July as she heads into her final high school season. Her defensive mindset and effort are never in question, and she consistently shows a strong understanding of how to defend regardless of who’s in front of her. As she continues to play with more pace and improves the consistency of her outside shot, coaches will continue to have plenty of conversations about what she brings to the table.

Mersinger is still one of the fastest and most explosive guards in the state. She’s a paint threat whenever the ball is in her hands. The first step is quick, the handle is tight and shifty, and she doesn’t seem to run out of gas over the course of a game. Defensively is where I believe she has improved the most. She is super aggressive when guarding the perimeter, has fast hands, and plays with a strong sense of awareness. She brings energy on both sides of the ball and continues to show why she’s one of the tougher guards to deal with in the state.

Mersinger is an great all around prospect for Benet. She is not only a lockdown defender, but can play efficiently within the flow of the offense. Ava’s unselfish play style makes her a player that anyone would want as a teammate. She is one to keep an eye on this post season.

Mersinger is one of the top scorers in her class as well as on her program, but with playoffs coming up, Mersinger could lean more towards her ability to lock down guards with her aggression and speed, rather than put all her energy into scoring. She is quick, she’s aware, and shows a strong amount of sicspline to not get into consistent foul trouble. Benet should find their way to Redbird Arena, and Mersinger’s ability to slow down her matchup will be key.

Mersinger does so much for this Benet team. Her speed and ball handling set her apart, but her most valuable asset is her nonstop effort—she’s always wherever the ball is. She had 4 blocks against a talented Glenbrook South team (one was called a foul, but it looked clean), which speaks to how hard she plays from the moment she steps on the court. You don’t get that kind of defensive effort without giving 110% every possession.

Skillset and speed-wise, there weren’t too many players this past weekend who could stay in front of Ava. She has lightning speed, and her ability to get to the rim comes with ease on most possessions. This allows her to shoot confidently from the outside, and once that shot becomes automatic.. she will be one of the hardest matchups in the state over the next two years.

Still one of the best guards in the junior class. Mersinger is more than just a hard matchup for a defender, but she’s a lot to handle for an entire team. She’s fast, she’s strong, and she has no quit in her game. Every possession, she will have players on their heels, and can cause a lot of issues for defensive rotations.

Mersinger was a key piece in the success of Benet last year, and this year I don’t see a drop off. Now that her being the outright starting guard this year, you can expect more confidence and comfort in her game. She plays the game twice her size, and she only plays to win. I could see her being the driving force on another successful season for the Redwings.