Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: Unity’s Ashlynn Arnsman

The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.

MENDON, Ill. — Ashlynn Arnsman has her eyes on the future.

Someday, she may have her eyes on everyone else’s eyes, too.

The Unity multi-sport standout plans to study optometry once her basketball playing days are over. First, she’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree at Quincy University while playing basketball for the Hawks following a prep career that ended with all-state honors

Arnsman averaged ​​14.7 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists last winter in helping the Mustangs to a 29-4 record. She received Class 1A honorable mention all-state honors from the Associated Press and was named to the Honorable Mention 100 on the Champaign News-Gazette’s all-state team.

That came after helping the Unity volleyball team win a single-season school-record 33 matches and earn a berth in a Class 1A sectional championship match.

Arnsman will represent Unity on the Illinois squad for the second Muddy River Showcase, taking place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.

Here are six things you should know about Ashlynn Arnsman:

Where you plan to go to college: Quincy University

What you plan to study: I plan to major in biology and pursue a career in optometry after college.

Reason you wear your number: It was my dad’s number in high school.

Favorite high school basketball memory: (Unity coach Brad Begeman) face-planting while we were doing a drill in the gym at practice last year.

Best piece of advice you have ever received: “Don’t put the ball on the floor when you get a rebound.” — Unity coach Brad Begeman.

Best advice you’d give younger teammates: It will go by fast. Do your best to enjoy it. Make as many memories as you can with your teammates.