Ava, an ECU Women’s Basketball commit, continues to shine as a leader and dominant two-way player. This week, she poured in 26 points, knocking down seven three-pointers while shooting an impressive 75% from the floor. Remarkably, this is the second time this season she’s hit seven threes in a game, following a performance where she shot over 80% from the field.

A team like 4A Lower Richland will make its opponent work for every point it earns. That was the case for Rush and her 5A Division 1 Wando assembling. The Warriors matched the best of the Diamond Hornets with their best and Rush’s 11 points helped in the 59-55 victory. Those watching Rush play for the first time may expect her to be a conventional four or five given she does stand at 6-foot-3. Except for one thing – Rush has the long-range shooting accuracy of a two guard on top of fusing together height with length on both ends of the floor. Put all of it together and the result is a Division I commit. East Carolina awaits following her senior season with the Warriors. 

Ava showed why she is currently ranked #2 in her position. She has a great feel for the game. Her size is a huge mismatch at the high school level because she can post up smaller defenders or step out and knock down threes at a high rate. Ava is extremely agile and moves up and down the court with finesse. She has recently verbally committed to East Carolina University.

Any conversation that mentions premier frontcourt forces across South Carolina ought to include Rush whose career has included stints with Oceanside Collegiate and First Baptist where she was a major element in getting the Hurricanes to the SCISA 4A championship game. Now, Rush has brought her talents to a 5A Division 1 Wando team that will remain in the state championship conversation before said talents are brought with her to East Carolina for her collegiate career. Her height advantage and length she has in the interior makes Rush extremely difficult to score on. Getting high-percentage shots, rebounding and 3-point accuracy are also reasons the Warriors have aspirations of playing basketball into March this season. 

After narrowing down her collegiate decision to four schools, one of the state’s signature senior talents announced on social media she will sport the purple and gold of East Carolina when her high school career concludes after this season. Appalachian State, Marshall and Elon rounded out Rush’s quintet. Between this and transferring SCISA 4A championship game participant First Baptist back to the SCHSL realm with 5A Division 1 Wando, Rush has had a busy offseason. After averaging 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Hurricanes, she hopes to bring even more success to the Warriors in her final season through the high school ranks. 

One of the premier 2026s throughout the Palmetto State appears to be closing in on a commitment decision. Rush has narrowed her list down to the last four. That collegiate quintet includes Appalachian State, East Carolina, Marshall and Elon. She has planned final visits to all four remaining suitors. Rush recently played her final AAU season with Palmetto 76ers/A’ja Wilson Elite . She made headlines during the offseason by announcing she would transfer from First Baptist – last season’s SCISA 4A runners-up – to 5A Division 1 Wando. In 32 games last season for the Hurricanes, Rush averaged 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game and similar numbers for the Warriors will ensure Wando will once again be a state contender among 5A Division 1 schools. 

If anyone knows about recruiting Palmetto State prospects, it is coach Alaura Sharp at Appalachian State who was previously at the helm at Presbyterian and even got the Blue Hose a March Madness bid – and win – two seasons ago. Rush is one of the premier Division I prospects in South Carolina and was recently offered by Sharp. She recently concluded her AAU career wearing the Palmetto 76ers/A’ja Wilson Elite uniform at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago. Rush was part of a First Baptist team that advanced to the SCISA 4A championship game and has taken her talents in her senior season to 5A Division 1 Wando. 

That final AAU tournament is always a memorable one for every senior. Rush was no exception as she wore the Palmetto 76ers/A’ja Wilson Elite jersey one more time at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago. Rush places plenty of emphasis on long-range shooting but can play the more conventional big role with her back to the basket. The length Rush possesses combined with her 6-foot-3 frame can make things very difficult for opposing defenses. Rebounding is another one of her strong points. Rush has had a busy offseason between the offers she has received and her transfer to 5A Division 1 Wando. 

One would be hard-pressed to find any prospect around the Palmetto State whose recruitment has picked up more than the veteran big who recently transferred to 5A Division 1 Wando. Her most recent offer have all been of the Division I variety. One was courtesy of the Seawolves of SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island. SUNY Stony Brook plays in the Colonial Athletic Association. Prior to that offer, she announced that the Spartans of USC-Upstate and the Panthers of High Point (both Big South schools) had her on their radar. In addition, Rush also landed an offer from North Florida of the Atlantic Sun. 

This will be the first time that I have a chance to see Ava Rush live and I can’t wait to see what she can do. Rush is a 6’3 SF with a strap on her from distance. She is someone that can kill her defender near the basket with her natural height and size advantage or she can step it out and hit contested shots from deep behind the three point line. Rush is going to be another P4 producer at the end of the day. I’m not sure where but at this rate she has several options from the D1 level and I’m sure that list will continue to grow until she does finally commit.