make another run at a state title , her maturity and leadership have shined in this difficult situation . “ I have seen my role change tremendously in just a couple weeks ,” she said . “ Coming into my senior year I knew I would have to lead and help the younger ones learn and mature but I didn ' t know I would have to change my role from doing that on the court to on the sidelines . In softball I have to do the same thing now as well .”
Her leadership role in softball will be as an extension of the coaching staff this season . “ Ava has been a valuable person in our program ,” Coach Reynolds said . “ Her softball ability is what everyone sees and notices , but her work ethic , friendship , and leadership is what stands out to me .”
Coach Smith saw that at the end of the hoops season . “ She is so dang tough . A bulldog ,” Smith described . “ She begged to actually brace it up and play it out for her teammates . If it were solely up to her , she would have guarded the best player with one good wheel . No one would have blamed her if she would have walked away from basketball this fall when she signed that LOI , but she loved this team more than anything and had some unfinished business she felt . She poured everything she had into what we were doing and will always be remembered as one of the toughest and most competitive girls to wear a Tech basketball uniform .”
“ That mentality is why Carter has been so successful , and why she will have an opportunity to play at the highest level . “ I am very determined , hardworking , and I like to think I am coachable ,” she explained . “ I strive to be the best in any situation and I always want to have that last at bat in the state finals or catch the last out . I also have a very wide knowledge for this sport , and I am able to know when and where to push myself .”
The dual sport star has always had to balance both sports with a busy schedule , but she has seen the benefits of each sport in her career . “ I take my leadership and aggression from both sports and use them in each ,” Carter said . “ I wouldn ' t be able to thrive as much as I do if I didn ' t take lots of things from each sport and showcase them in the other .”
That balance created a hectic schedule , but one that Carter feels helped her get to where she wanted to go . “ During my recruiting process for softball , I would travel with my basketball team to our camps , and when I had games for softball in another place , we would leave from basketball that night or early in the morning so I was able to showcase my ability in front of softball coaches . I was fortunately blessed to have such amazing coaches to understand what needed to be done to reach my dream . My coaches , family , friends , and teammates have made me who I am today .”
An injury may have shortened an already illustrious career , but the character of Ava Carter will allow her to come out stronger in the end . If anything is proven , it is that the University of Arkansas signed a gem of a player , but even better representative of the program and the state .