COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The Maryland women's basketball team will welcome a top 10 freshman class in the country next season, head coach Brenda Frese announced Wednesday.
Frese and her staff signed two top recruits that make up the No. 10 class in the country, as ranked by All Star Girls Report. Ava Sciolla (Fairless Hills, Pa.) and Mila Reynolds (South Bend, Ind.) are both rising talents. Reynolds, a 6-3 forward, is ranked No. 37 overall by ASGR and Sciolla, a 6-0 guard, is ranked No. 77.
This is the 15th top 10 recruiting class signed by Frese in her 20 years under Maryland. Frese brought in the top recruiting class in 2016 and 2019 and she signed the nation's No. 2 recruiting class in 2007, 2010 and 2018.
MILA REYNOLDS
Forward ● 6-3
South Bend, Ind. ● South Bend Washington High School
Reynolds averaged 19 points and nine rebounds a game as a junior in the 2020-21 season. She is a four-star recruit and currently has 1,496 career points. Reynolds helped her South Bend Washington squad to sectional, regional and semi state titles. They advanced to the Indiana state high school game. She was named NIC (Northern Indiana Conference) MVP as a junior and to the First Team in all three seasons.
Reynolds scored over 500 points in her sophomore campaign (2019-20) and was the Burger King Most Outstanding Player of the Week. She currently holds the South Bend Washington record for points in a game with 46.
Reynolds played for Michigan Crossover and Sports City U.
Frese on Reynolds: “Mila is a versatile forward that can play inside and out. She should help us stretch the floor with her ability to shoot the ball. She can also play physical in the paint. She’s a proven winner and comes from a great family. Her dad is a coach, so I know she can bring basketball IQ. We’re excited to have the Reynolds family at Maryland.”
Reynolds on Maryland: “The coaches recruited me the hardest compared to other schools, showing how much they wanted me. They are my favorite coaching staff. They have become more like a second family for me rather than just coaches of the college I will soon play at. I just love and relate to my future teammates so well. The campus is beautiful and I loved the fact that Maryland is such a diverse school.”
Coach Steve Reynolds (South Bend Washington) on Reynolds: “Mila is a trailblazer for our family of ballers and the South Bend Washington girls basketball program. She’s been a light in her school and community. Marcy and I are extremely proud to be her parents and to have had the opportunity to have coached her all these years. Go Terps!”
Coach Bryce McKey (Sports City U) on Reynolds: “Mila has an infectious personality that makes her a great teammate whom people love to play with. Her versatility on offense allows her to score from anywhere on the floor, highlighted by her long range shooting ability.”
AVA SCIOLLA
Guard ● 6-0
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania ● Pennsbury High School
Sciolla averaged 17.0 points per game as a junior last season. She is the fastest female in Pennsbury history to reach the 1,000 career points mark. She helped her Pennsbury team win two Suburban One League (SOL) titles in 2020 and 2021. Her team also finished as runner-up in the district in 2020.
Sciolla was named to the All-State 6A First Team in 2021.
Sciolla played for the Mid-Atlantic Magic through 2018, then the Philly Belles for 2019 and 2020. She currently plays for Philly Rise.
Frese on Sciolla: “Ava is an intense competitor who will do the things it takes to help her team win. She sees the floor and thinks the game well. She can knock down shots from the perimeter. She’s a coach’s kid from a terrific family. We’re glad to have them all part of our program here at Maryland.”
Sciolla on Maryland: “I made an instant connection with the entire coaching staff. From our first conversation, I felt comfortable being myself and talking honestly about what I wanted for my future. I love winning, and Maryland is a winning program led by Coach Frese. I have always dreamed of winning a national championship and I believe that my best chance at that is becoming a Terp. UMD offers a combination of high-level athletics and academics, and that is something that was very important for me and my family.”
Coach Frank Sciolla (Pennsbury) on Sciolla: “Ava has always elevated the teams she plays for. Her court vision and ambidextrous skill set helps her create plays for her teammates in transition and in the half court. Quite simply, she sees things that most kids don’t see… I’ve been really fortunate to coach so many great players at all levels from college on up to the NBA, so it’s hard to compare them all, but she is definitely someone whose best basketball is ahead of her. She can play and guard multiple positions because of her strength and footwork.”
Coach Doug West (Philly Rise) on Sciolla: “Ava is a very smart player. She knows how to play within the flow of the game. Ava is a hard worker who wants to get better. She has no problem asking questions and she is a great teammate.”
Frese and her staff signed two top recruits that make up the No. 10 class in the country, as ranked by All Star Girls Report. Ava Sciolla (Fairless Hills, Pa.) and Mila Reynolds (South Bend, Ind.) are both rising talents. Reynolds, a 6-3 forward, is ranked No. 37 overall by ASGR and Sciolla, a 6-0 guard, is ranked No. 77.
This is the 15th top 10 recruiting class signed by Frese in her 20 years under Maryland. Frese brought in the top recruiting class in 2016 and 2019 and she signed the nation's No. 2 recruiting class in 2007, 2010 and 2018.
MILA REYNOLDS
Forward ● 6-3
South Bend, Ind. ● South Bend Washington High School
Reynolds averaged 19 points and nine rebounds a game as a junior in the 2020-21 season. She is a four-star recruit and currently has 1,496 career points. Reynolds helped her South Bend Washington squad to sectional, regional and semi state titles. They advanced to the Indiana state high school game. She was named NIC (Northern Indiana Conference) MVP as a junior and to the First Team in all three seasons.
Reynolds scored over 500 points in her sophomore campaign (2019-20) and was the Burger King Most Outstanding Player of the Week. She currently holds the South Bend Washington record for points in a game with 46.
Reynolds played for Michigan Crossover and Sports City U.
Frese on Reynolds: “Mila is a versatile forward that can play inside and out. She should help us stretch the floor with her ability to shoot the ball. She can also play physical in the paint. She’s a proven winner and comes from a great family. Her dad is a coach, so I know she can bring basketball IQ. We’re excited to have the Reynolds family at Maryland.”
Reynolds on Maryland: “The coaches recruited me the hardest compared to other schools, showing how much they wanted me. They are my favorite coaching staff. They have become more like a second family for me rather than just coaches of the college I will soon play at. I just love and relate to my future teammates so well. The campus is beautiful and I loved the fact that Maryland is such a diverse school.”
Coach Steve Reynolds (South Bend Washington) on Reynolds: “Mila is a trailblazer for our family of ballers and the South Bend Washington girls basketball program. She’s been a light in her school and community. Marcy and I are extremely proud to be her parents and to have had the opportunity to have coached her all these years. Go Terps!”
Coach Bryce McKey (Sports City U) on Reynolds: “Mila has an infectious personality that makes her a great teammate whom people love to play with. Her versatility on offense allows her to score from anywhere on the floor, highlighted by her long range shooting ability.”
AVA SCIOLLA
Guard ● 6-0
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania ● Pennsbury High School
Sciolla averaged 17.0 points per game as a junior last season. She is the fastest female in Pennsbury history to reach the 1,000 career points mark. She helped her Pennsbury team win two Suburban One League (SOL) titles in 2020 and 2021. Her team also finished as runner-up in the district in 2020.
Sciolla was named to the All-State 6A First Team in 2021.
Sciolla played for the Mid-Atlantic Magic through 2018, then the Philly Belles for 2019 and 2020. She currently plays for Philly Rise.
Frese on Sciolla: “Ava is an intense competitor who will do the things it takes to help her team win. She sees the floor and thinks the game well. She can knock down shots from the perimeter. She’s a coach’s kid from a terrific family. We’re glad to have them all part of our program here at Maryland.”
Sciolla on Maryland: “I made an instant connection with the entire coaching staff. From our first conversation, I felt comfortable being myself and talking honestly about what I wanted for my future. I love winning, and Maryland is a winning program led by Coach Frese. I have always dreamed of winning a national championship and I believe that my best chance at that is becoming a Terp. UMD offers a combination of high-level athletics and academics, and that is something that was very important for me and my family.”
Coach Frank Sciolla (Pennsbury) on Sciolla: “Ava has always elevated the teams she plays for. Her court vision and ambidextrous skill set helps her create plays for her teammates in transition and in the half court. Quite simply, she sees things that most kids don’t see… I’ve been really fortunate to coach so many great players at all levels from college on up to the NBA, so it’s hard to compare them all, but she is definitely someone whose best basketball is ahead of her. She can play and guard multiple positions because of her strength and footwork.”
Coach Doug West (Philly Rise) on Sciolla: “Ava is a very smart player. She knows how to play within the flow of the game. Ava is a hard worker who wants to get better. She has no problem asking questions and she is a great teammate.”
