Ava Zucco is a 5’10” powerhouse from Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, an exceptional Class of 2026 athlete who brings a rare combination of versatility, toughness, and basketball IQ to the floor.
Wearing #10 for her high school squad and #2 for the AAU program Sideline Cancer (@iCAN_basketball), Zucco is a dominant presence in multiple positions: power forward, guard, and wing.
Her GPA of 97.7 highlights her drive and discipline off the court, which clearly translates to her consistent performance in games.
Zucco’s ability to operate both in the low post and out on the perimeter makes her a matchup nightmare.
She’s fluid and comfortable posting up defenders and has an instinctual feel for when to spin, pivot, or kick out.
At the same time, her range as a shooter, especially from the wings, adds another layer to her offensive game.
She hits the three-ball with confidence and accuracy, making defenders pay if they sag off her.
Her footwork in the post is polished, and her court awareness makes her a threat both as a scorer and as a decision-maker.
Defensively, Ava is elite at protecting the paint.
Her length, timing, and vertical discipline allow her to alter shots without fouling.
She’s a willing rebounder who doesn’t shy away from physicality and consistently finds a body to box out.
Add in her willingness to hustle, dive for loose balls, and compete on every possession, this is a player who checks all the intangibles.
Ava Zucco is the kind of athlete that coaches love to build around: smart, gritty, skilled, and evolving.
Strengths & Areas of Improvement:
Ava’s versatility is her biggest strength, she thrives as a hybrid forward who can stretch the floor, attack closeouts, and bang in the post.
Her shooting stroke from deep is fluid and accurate, making her a real threat from beyond the arc.
She displays high basketball IQ on both ends of the floor, making smart reads, setting up teammates, and protecting the rim effectively.
Her rebounding effort is consistent and aggressive, especially on the defensive glass.
In terms of development, Ava could continue to work on her handle under heavy pressure, especially against quicker guards.
Enhancing her first step explosiveness would give her more options off the dribble.
Adding more confidence to her mid-range game, pull-ups and floaters, would further round out her offensive package.
Defensively, she’s strong around the rim, but continued focus on switching out to defend quicker guards on the perimeter will be key as she levels up.
Conclusion:
Ava Zucco is the total package in the making, a high-character, multi-positional athlete who impacts the game in a variety of ways.
Her ability to shift seamlessly from the post to the perimeter gives her team flexibility and makes her hard to scout.
Her rebounding instincts and shot-altering presence on defense show she’s not just playing hard, she understands the nuances of the game.
The fact that she’s willing to sacrifice her body, dive on the floor, and fight for every possession is a testament to her grit and mindset.
What sets Ava apart is that she doesn’t rely on just one skill set.
She’s a reliable scorer, an aggressive defender, a consistent rebounder, and a high-level competitor who brings leadership qualities with her every time she steps on the court.
If she continues to sharpen her ball-handling and mid-range creativity, she’ll elevate into one of the premier prospects in the 2026 class.
Ava Zucco is a name to circle, underline, and follow closely, her game is on a serious upward trajectory.