Ava Richie Ava Richie 5'8" | PG Crown Point | 2028 State IN is another impressive junior to watch in Northwest Indiana. The Crown Point standout has been making an impact since her freshman season and has continued to develop into one of the area’s top scoring guards.

Richie does an excellent job creating offense from the point guard position, showing the ability to score while also making plays with the ball in her hands. Last season, she averaged 16.9 points per game, showcasing her ability to consistently produce at the varsity level.

Her strong play has also attracted attention from the college level. Richie currently holds offers from Northern Kentucky, IU Indy, Oakland, Northern Illinois, and others, making her one of the more highly recruited juniors in the area.

With another season of varsity experience ahead of her, Richie will be a key player to watch as she looks to continue elevating her game and lead Crown Point throughout the season.

Ava’s physical growth and improved strength have greatly helped her with her game. She is wiry-strong, fluidly athletic, and smooth with the basketball in her hands. She does a nice job of slicing through gaps, collapsing the defense, and finding open teammates. At the same time, she has turned into an effective perimeter shooter, she has a solid mid-range pull-up, and she has learned to finish with a variety of runners/floaters in the paint. Her well-roundedness and craftiness offensively are what stand out about her game as a true lead guard. She’s also a savvy defender.

Ava was a standout on each court she saw Sunday, whether it was in the drills or during the games. She has gotten so strong with the ball that she makes dribble-moves look simple against pressure, plus she is absorbing contact so much better attacking the basket. She can finish inside, she has always been a fairly consistent perimeter shooter, but now she has also added a really nice mid-range pull-up to her arsenal. She is a willing passer with good vision, and she has improved as a defender, learning how to take better angles. I’m anticipating her having a big Spring & Summer.

Ava Richie Ava Richie 5'8" | PG Crown Point | 2028 State IN had an impressive freshman season for the Bulldogs, leading the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game while also topping the charts in steals and assists. She showed she was ready for varsity competition, handling the physicality of attacking the rim with confidence while maintaining a quick, versatile shot that makes her a threat from multiple areas on the floor. Entering her sophomore season under a new coach, Richie is poised to continue improving her game. Her combination of scoring ability, court vision, and defensive instincts positions her to lead Crown Point to another winning season—and potentially another sectional championship.

I remember seeing Ava back in 7th Grade, and she was this little, feisty point guard who showed great potential. Fast forward to now, and she has grown quite a bit, gotten much stronger, and she plays with the ball on a string. She can create off the dribble and is a more-than-willing passer, but she has also continued to improve her perimeter shooting consistency, plus she is getting through the defense and absorbing contact much better. Additionally, she has become a savvy on-ball defender who can be frustrating for opponents at times.

Ava recently switched to this 16U team and has made an instant impact based on what I saw yesterday. She has nice length, she looks like she has gotten stronger, plus she is steady, heady, and smooth with the ball. More importantly, she is shooting it much better from the perimeter and hit both a wing 3-pointer and stepped into a 3-pointer while pushing in transition. Based on genetics, she might also have another couple of inches to grow.

Ava is one of those kids who is already skilled and talented, but I feel like her best days are well in front of her. She has a long, wiry frame, she’s a fluid athlete, and she’s consistently growing a couple of inches each year. She has a nice handle, good vision, and she’s able to play with her head up scanning the floor. At the same time, Ava can shoot/score it fairly consistently, and I think she will be a much-improved player in a couple of years once she finishes her growth.