Averie Zinn’s parents play dual roles as coaches and mentors in her rise to basketball greatness.
Highlights
- Averie Zinn has transformed from a facilitator averaging 9 points per game to a record-breaking scorer who has set multiple school and state records in Michigan, including 53 points in a single game and 634 points in a season.
- Her parents (Michael and Megan, depending on the source) serve as her coaches and have created a basketball-centered family environment that fosters excellence, with her father as head coach and mother as assistant coach.
- Averie’s extraordinary work ethic sets her apart, with her daily routine including 5:30 AM workouts, regular practice, and additional training sessions at home, demonstrating a level of dedication her father describes as unparalleled in his coaching experience.
Averie Zinn has established herself as one of the most formidable basketball talents in Michigan high school sports.
The 5’11” junior guard for Genesee High School combines exceptional scoring ability with defensive prowess, making her a complete player who dominates on both ends of the court.
At Genesee, Zinn has shattered multiple school and Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) records.
Her historic achievements include scoring 53 points in a single game, recording 18 steals in one contest, and tallying 634 points and 170 steals in the 2023/2024 season.
Thank you so much @LakeStateWBB @CoachHowrigon @alixcarter9 for such a great visit today, I appreciate you guys!@vjhAlways100 pic.twitter.com/MLbN8tsu8y
— Averie Zinn (@averiezinn3) August 22, 2024
These remarkable performances earned her First Team All-State honors from the Associated Press and MLive Flint Area Player of the Year recognition.
Her work ethic is legendary among high school athletes. Zinn’s typical day begins at 5:30 AM with an hour of conditioning, followed by a full day of classes, team practice or games, and additional shooting and ball-handling drills at home.
This dedication reflects her passion for basketball and commitment to continuous improvement, which has helped transform her from a facilitator who averaged 9 points per game as a freshman to a dominant scorer averaging over 29 points per game.
Averie Zinn’s Parents, Michael And Megan Zinn, Are The Driving Force Behind Her Basketball Success
Behind Averie Zinn’s meteoric rise stands her greatest support system – her parents, Michael and Megan Zinn.
Their influence on Averie’s basketball journey is unmistakable and profound.
The Zinn family has created an environment where basketball excellence flourishes.
Michael Zinn serves as Genesee’s head coach, bringing years of basketball knowledge and coaching experience to guide his daughter’s development.
Before taking the helm at Genesee, he spent years as an assistant coach, developing a deep understanding of the game that he now shares with Averie.
Megan Zinn complements her husband’s coaching as the team’s assistant coach.
Her basketball pedigree is impressive, having been a standout player at Genesee High School during her own playing days.
This firsthand experience allows her to provide valuable insights to Averie from a player’s perspective, creating a perfect balance of coaching influences.
The Zinns have created a basketball-centered household that nurtures talent.
Their home features a basement dedicated to ball-handling drills and a driveway court where Averie and her siblings practice shooting.
During summer, when access to the school gym is limited, Averie and her sister Ryleigh maintain their training regimen by “putting up a couple of hundred shots” daily in their driveway.
Jeff and Sandi’s approach to parenting extends beyond just coaching. They’ve instilled important values in Averie, including humility and academic excellence.
Despite her record-breaking performances, Averie maintains a grounded perspective, saying,
“I don’t like to be cocky. I don’t have to talk up myself. People can look at my stats.”
MLive
This mature outlook is complemented by her impressive 3.9 grade-point average, demonstrating that the Zinns emphasize education alongside athletic achievement.
The family’s basketball legacy extends to Averie’s siblings as well. Her older sister Ryleigh, now playing collegiate basketball at Lake Superior State, previously held Genesee’s single-game scoring record with 46 points before Averie broke it.
Jeff Zinn recognizes something special in Averie that sets her apart even from her accomplished sister.
“Ryleigh was not on her level,” he acknowledges when comparing the two as sophomores.
He describes Averie’s exceptional drive:
“This kid lives in the gym. As long as I’ve been coaching, I’ve never had a kid that drains me out of wanting to be in the gym.”
MLive
What makes the Zinns’ parenting approach particularly effective is that they don’t need to push Averie – she pulls them along with her passion. Michael explains,
“This kid wants to work. I don’t have to force her. She does it on her own.”
MLive
They’ve created an environment where basketball excellence is cultivated but not demanded, allowing Averie’s internal motivation to flourish.
The courtside dynamic between Averie and her parents showcases their special relationship.
Images from games show Averie celebrating with her parents/coaches on the bench, highlighting how their family bond extends seamlessly into their basketball roles.
This unique parent-coach relationship provides Averie with consistent mentorship both on and off the court.
As Averie continues setting ambitious goals – including dreams of scoring 60 or even 70 points in a game – Michael and Megan Zinn remain her steadfast supporters.
Their expertise, dedication, and unwavering belief in her abilities have helped transform Averie from a promising talent into one of Michigan’s most outstanding high school basketball players, with collegiate opportunities already beginning to emerge.
Additional Information
- Averie experienced significant physical growth between seasons, going from 5’5″ to 5’9″ and gaining 25 pounds, which contributed to her increased dominance on the court.
- She plays for the Rice Basketball Academy during the summer months to continue developing her skills outside the regular school season.
- Despite being a high-scoring player, Averie is also a well-rounded athlete who averaged 8.3 steals, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, demonstrating her all-around basketball abilities.
