Mlnarik signs with Hastings College

Adyson Mlnarik will trade her Carolina blue uniform for Hastings College crimson.

The Summerland High girls' basketball standout signed a letter of intent, in front of family, coaches and TeamMates, March 13, on the SPS basketball court.

Mlnarik told the "Advocate-Messenger" she chose HC "because it was a place where I felt I would fit in great."

The 5-foot-eight point guard averaged 23.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game during her senior campaign. The Bobcats finished 17-7, just missing a trip to the 2024 girls' state tourney after a one-point overtime loss to Centura.

Mlnarik's consistency on the court drew attention from Bronco head coach, Jina Douglas.

"The biggest thing that stands out initially is her ability to shoot the basketball," Douglas said. "Really good shooters are few and far between nowadays. She knows how to knock down shots and she knows how to score in a variety of ways."

Mlnarik's stat sheet impressed Douglas. On Dec. 8, Mlnarik scored her 1,000th-career point, driving the lane for a layup. She set a single-game scoring record, knocking down 43 points in a contest against Riverside.

"Sometimes that does translates to college, you know how to score, you're used to it and you know how to carry teams," Douglas said.

Mlnarik said she thinks she'll be an additional shooting guard for the Broncos.

Plus, she will offer the Great Plains Athletic Conference team another asset.

"I'll always have energy," Mlnarik said.

Bobcat head coach Jacob Birch said he's excited for Mlnarik to continue her career at the next level.

"Ady is a great basketball player, great student and great person. She will be a fantastic addition to the program at Hastings."

Douglas said there might be an adjustment to the speed of the game for Mlnarik and other freshman recruits.

"Her ability to knock down shots is a huge asset for her though," the coach said. "When you have a shooter, it opens up everything else. People have to guard her at the three-point line and all of a sudden, the paint's much more open and they can sag in more."

The Broncos struggled with scoring on a consistent level this season, according to Douglas. The team finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-15 overall record and averaged 66 points per game.

The team's year-end statistic showed they made 23.6% of two-point shots per game. From beyond the arc, they ended with a 6.9% per-game average.

"We had chances at the end of the year to make a run but we just couldn't win games we needed to win."

She believes that adding this year's recruiting class will give the Broncos a much-needed spark.

In addition to Mlnarik, Niobrara/Verdigre standout Josilyn Miller, Mckenna Yates of McCool Junction and Ann Bose, Southern Valley, will join the Broncos.

Mlnarik said, "I know some of the girls going there and am very excited to play with them."