Ava is a great competitor on the court, being able to handle the ball or play off ball just as efficiently. Her deep shot is one of the top in the state as she can easily drain 4-5 threes in one game. It doesn’t matter if it is off the dribble or off a catch, she is able to get her shot off quickly. Her drive with her lefty hand stands out as she can keep control of the ball just as well as her right.

How do you think your team and yourself performed throughout this season?rn-I believe we had a good year for how new our team was. It took us some time to gel though. This season had its challenges, but also opened up lots of doors for me and allowed me to become a more well rounded player. I was able to play at a higher levels where I had stats all around the board from points, rebounds, assists and steals.

What was the biggest obstacle you and your team faced this season?rn-The biggest obstacle I believe my team and I faced was losing an important game to get us to the Tacoma Dome. Not making it to state was heartbreaking and something that was a big goal for us. We fell short off a last minute buzzer beater. That just fuels us to come back stronger and better next season.

What do you think you improved most on the court?rn-Defense is something I believe I improved on most this season. I was able to get a lot of steals through the passing lanes this year and apply more on ball pressure.

What are you looking to improve before next season?rn-Improving on my conditioning is key. Getting in the weight room consistently is something I’ve been doing in order to get bigger, faster and stronger as I’m playing in these games.

Who are some teammates that you think stood out this season? Who are some teammates who could have breakout years next year in your eyes?rn-A teammate that stood out this season was Brooklynn Haywood Brooklynn Haywood 5'9" | PG Union | 2026 State #24 Nation WA , she had a record breaking year and theres never been a freshman that has came into this state and impacted the game like she did in a long time. We played off each other and made each other better. A teammate who I think could have a breakout year is Rowyn Riley Rowyn Riley 5'5" | PG Union | 2024 WA , she’s going to have a leadership role as a senior and we’re going to need her to win. She had some big games for us throughout the season this year!

Ava is a new addition to this Union team as she came over from Camas HS. She shares the backcourt with 2026 player Brooklynn Haywood Brooklynn Haywood 5'9" | PG Union | 2026 State #24 Nation WA and the two combine for one of the top duos in the state. Smith shoots the ball very efficiently and sees the court very well. Against Skyview HS on 1/6/2023 she had 18 points, 14 rebounds, which was a career high, and got 3 steals on defense.

**Ava now attends Union HS**

Ava is off to a great start to the year, just like her Union HS team. With freshman Brooklynn Haywood Brooklynn Haywood 5'9" | PG Union | 2026 State #24 Nation WA showing everyone why she’s a top 2026 player in the state, Ava has also been contributing in big ways. In a win over Ridgefield, Ava contributed 18 points to go along with 5 steals on the defensive side. She’s showing early why she should be ranked within the 2024 class. I’m looking forward to seeing her progression this season.