Kansas high school basketball player, mother 'both happy to be home finally'

Star basketball player and Iowa women's basketball commit Ava Jones and her mother, Amy Jones, have made it home to Nickerson, the family confirmed Friday. They arrived late Thursday night. 

"They are both happy to be home, finally," Mary Alice Jones said, Ava Jones' grandmother. "Both are doing well."

An Instagram post on the Nickerson High School productions department showed a photo of Ava Jones with new head volleyball coach Chelsey Nichols. 

It has been over a month since Amy and Ava Jones were severely injured in downtown Louisville, Kentucky when an allegedly impaired driver went off the road and onto a sidewalk where the two women, Trey Jones — Ava's father — and Creek Jones — the youngest child —  were struck by the vehicle. Creek Jones was discharged with minor injuries while Ava and Amy Jones were severely injured and Trey Jones, who was a teacher and the head track coach at Nickerson High School, died. 

More:Setback postpones Amy Jones' return to Kansas from rehab in Louisville

Ava and Amy Jones were recovering at Louisville Rehabilitation Institute. Ava Jones was seen shooting a small ball into a hoop in her first week in rehabilitation. The two also passed tests to eat regular meals, according to updates on the Jones Family Updates Facebook group. 

Aug. 17 was the original date mother and daughter were scheduled to return home from Kentucky, but Amy Jones had a setback that required surgeries to clean out her legs from an infection, which were successful. 

The family also confirmed Iowa will honor Ava Jones' scholarship, no matter what happens. Jones is an ESPNW top 100 player in the 2023 class and was previously committed to Arizona State before a coaching change came into the mix, where then the 2022 Class 3A girls player of the year decided to decommit and open her recruitment again. Jones averaged 20.8 points and 15.4 rebounds per game last season at Nickerson en route to a fourth-place finish at the 3A state basketball tournament.  Coaches also named Ava Jones the Central Kansas League girls most valuable player at the end-of-the-year all-league selections.

She is also a multi-sport athlete at Nickerson. During her sophomore year, Ava Jones won the 4A girls high jump. She also stared on the Nickerson volleyball team as one of the team's leaders in kills. This past year, Jones qualified for four events at the state track meet, placing in the top seven in three events and placing in the top three in two events. 

More:'I can't thank everyone enough': Hunter Jones grateful for support for his family

Billy Watson is the sports reporter for The Hutchinson News and has been in Kansas since March 2021. To reach out about story ideas, you can send an email to wwatson@gannett.com or send a direct message on Twitter @hutchsports or @billywatson4l.