Hall of Fame
Ava Thomas was always known to lead by example. That example was one that laid the groundwork for the success and future of the Utica College women's basketball program. In three seasons in the orange and blue, Thomas turned the record book upside down, scoring 1,112 points, grabbing 831 rebounds and blocking a school-record 152 shots.
Thomas currently ranks first all-time in blocked shots, fourth in career rebounds, seventh in career steals and ninth in career scoring. She is one of just four players in program-history to average over 10.0 rebounds per game in a career. She also ranks 11th all-time with 223 career free throws made.
She paced UC to 53 victories in three seasons, including 29 conference wins, to go along with three straight Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearances.
In her senior season she averaged 15.9 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game on her way to earning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year, Empire 8 All-Conference First Team, D3hoops.com All-Region, NYSWCAA All-Star and ECAC Upstate All-Star status. That same year was capped by a Dick Miller Most Inspiration Player Award, given to the College's top student-athlete.
Her career was littered with post-season accolades as she earned Empire 8 All-Conference First Team status in each of her three seasons. She was also a three-time ECAC All-Star and a two-time NYSWCAA All-Star. She also had several incredible single game statistical accomplishments, including grabbing 23 rebounds against Elmira in her junior campaign.
Following her successful collegiate career at UC, it was only fitting for an elite player like Thomas to continue on with her basketball career. After graduation, she found herself in Puerto Rico playing in the La Feminine Superior, or, The Superior Women League. Their season began at the end of July, and finished in the beginning of October. Thomas described her experience as challenging, yet helpful for her future.
"Ava's successes on the court were a tribute to the person that she was and is," says former teammate Alicia Gorski. "She put her team first and would do anything for the success of the team."
Originally from Bronx, NY, Thomas attended Saint Raymond Academy. She graduated from Utica College in 2007 with a degree in psychology.
