LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A high school basketball player who was hit by a Louisville driver months ago is back on the court.
Ava Jones scored the Kansas team's first basket before getting a standing ovation Tuesday night.
Jones started practicing with her team again in November and was still wearing a knee brace last night.
The young athlete has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa University-- the school announcing it will honor Jones' scholarship even if she is unable to completely return to the sport.
Last summer, Jones and her family were hit by a car while in downtown Louisville for Ava's AAU basketball tournament when police say a driver under the influence of opioids hit them with his car.
Her father, Trey Jones, died days later in the hospital. Creek Jones, 10, suffered a few minor cuts and scrapes, but was otherwise fine. Ava and her mother, Amy, suffered more serious injuries: traumatic brain injuries and several broken bones.
Michael Hurley, the driver that hit the Kansas family, has since been charged with murder, assault and operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Police say he admitted to them he had taken Hydrocodone before driving.
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