LYNN — Whether you were in a basketball gymnasium or on a soccer field, Lynn Classical’s Ava Thurman was a big topic of conversation the past few years.
Well, that conversation isn’t stopping any time soon. From one Rams team to another, the reigning Greater Boston League MVP is headed to Suffolk University in Boston to join the women’s basketball team.
“I’m super excited,” Thurman said. “The team seems great and it’s just an environment I want to be in.”
Despite not meeting any of its players just yet, Thurman did meet Suffolk’s head coach Ed Leyden, who will soon enter his 28th season at the helm.
“He told me that I would probably have an immediate impact on the team, which was really cool for me to know,” Thurman said. “I’m glad that when I go there, he thinks I can have an impact right away.”
Classical fans believe it, as Thurman’s playmaking ability and late-game heroics would help any team, especially one that went to the Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinals this past season.
“Really good things are coming, hopefully,” Thurman said of her new team.
Thurman plans on majoring in sports marketing or sports management, and is already looking into internships and other academic opportunities.
“You want to pick a school that you’d go to without sports anyway,” Thurman said.
And, not to mention – she’s right there in Beantown.
“That’s what I like about it,” Thurman said. “I really like Boston. That was a huge selling point for me.”
Thurman, who said she’s excited to come and support Classical for years to come, said her memories wearing green and gold aren’t going anywhere.
“Classical was just a great place for me to grow, and I never felt limited,” Thurman said. “It was a great building ground along with my AAU team (Evolution Basketball New England) for preparing me for college.”
As for her favorite part of high school sports, Thurman said it’d have to be her friendships. That said, she’s not the only Ram headed to Suffolk.
“I’m going to Suffolk with Akiya Brown as well,” Thurman said. “I think our Classical chemistry can transfer to Suffolk as well, and I think that will be really cool.”
Classical coach Tom Sawyer never misses a chance to speak highly of his players, including Thurman, who returned the favor this time around.
“He’s a great guy. He’s super humble and always helping me no matter what,” Thurman said. “I couldn’t ask for anyone else.”
In the end, Thurman’s been playing the game since sixth grade, and said she feels “free” whenever she steps foot on the hardwood – something Suffolk fans will find out very soon.
“For me, it’s always been basketball,” Thurman said.
