🏀 Ava Thomas Honored with the Renee DiGiulio–Naismith Courage and Grit Award

Presented by the Naismith International Basketball Foundation (NIBF)

🌟 About Ava Thomas

Ava Thomas, Class of 2026 at The Mary Louis Academy (TMLA) in Jamaica, NY, is a rising student-athlete who exemplifies strength, balance, and brilliance. Representing the Rising Stars program, Ava has consistently demonstrated elite performance, unmatched work ethic, and the heart of a leader—on and off the court.

🎓 Ava’s Academic & Athletic Legacy

🏅 ACADEMIC & LEADERSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 📚 3.95 GPA — Honor Roll student at The Mary Louis Academy (TMLA), Class of 2026.
• 🎓 National Honor Society inductee — recognized for academic excellence, leadership, and service.
• 🧠 Neuroethics Scholar — Selected for the Georgetown University Neuroethics Internship Program; proposed research paper for publication.
• 👩‍🏫 90+ hours of community service — as part of TMLA’s junior year curriculum.
• 🎤 Founder of “Best on Best: Unrivaled Battle of the Brands” — a national showcase platform for young women student-athletes.
• 🏛️ Creator of “On Court Off Court LIVE THE DREAM” — a FIBA-style elite showcase platform supporting underserved communities.
• 🕊️ Trailblazer & First-Ever Recipient — of the Renee DiGiulio–Naismith Student-Athlete Courage and Grit Award (2025).

🏀 ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE & IMPACT

• ⭐ Elite Power 5 Guard (1–3 positions), 5’9.7″, recruited by D1 and Ivy League programs.
• 💯 Scored 1000+ career points — to be honored at her senior season opener.
• 🏆 MVP Awards — including Rose Classic Super Jam, She Got Game Classic, March Madness Women’s History Month Tournament.
• 🥇 GOAT of the Month — April 2025, Rising Stars program.
• 🏟️ “QUEEN ME” Standout — at halftime of Knicks vs. Clippers at Madison Square Garden.
• 🛡️ Rose Classic Most Improved & Defensive Player
• 🏀 2025 Nike EYCL Gold Champion — averaged 21.2 PPG, 7.6 AST; team went 40–7, won GymRats and Nationals.
• 🌍 Awaiting Selection — USA U19 National Team Trials, Colorado Springs.
• 🏀 Varsity Starter — led TMLA to multiple CHSAA playoff appearances.

🏆 About the Award

Ava was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Renee DiGiulio–Naismith Courage and Grit Award—a national honor presented by the Naismith International Basketball Foundation to student-athletes who demonstrate:

• 🔥 Relentless determination in the face of adversity
• 📚 Dedication to academic and athletic excellence
• 🫶🏽 Leadership rooted in integrity and sportsmanship
• 💪🏾 Courage, grit, and personal sacrifice

🏀 Special Recognition

This award honors not only Ava’s athletic journey but also her character and positive influence in her community. She now joins an elite group of youth leaders carrying forward the legacy of Dr. James Naismith and the true values he founded the game on: HONOR – DIGNITY – RESPECT.

“Ava Thomas represents the exact spirit Dr. Naismith envisioned when he created the game — someone who leads with honor, competes with heart, and uplifts others in every space she enters. This is more than an award — it’s a torch being passed to a future leader.”
— Hector R. Perdomo Sr., President, NIBF

📸 Award Ceremony

📍 Location: [TBD]
📅 Date: [TBD]
🎙️ Special Guest: Ms. Lynette Woodard
🏀 First female Harlem Globetrotter, NCAA All-Time Leading Scorer, Olympic Gold Medalist.

🕊️ Renee DiGiulio — A Light for Those Without One

Renee was the soul behind this mission — a woman of unstoppable compassion who championed the underserved through NIBF programs across the U.S. and Caribbean, even while fighting her own battle with breast cancer.

She was called the “Mother Teresa of the Caribbean” and served children with terminal illness, homelessness, and abandonment with unmatched passion and grace.

🌍 Renee’s Caribbean Kids Coalition — Her Torch Lives On

Renee’s mission lives on through the Caribbean Kids Coalition, a program born from her travel work and transformed into a global movement through her partnership and marriage with Mr. Ian “Yan” Naismith — grandson of Dr. James Naismith.

“Renee turned her travel routes into mission routes. She connected the forgotten with the faithful, and gave the voiceless a champion who never stopped fighting.”
— Hector R. Perdomo Sr., President, NIBF

Congratulations Ava — your legacy is just beginning. Keep rising.

#NIBF #AvaThomas #CourageAndGrit #NaismithLegacy #ReneeDiGiulio #RisingStars