GREAT CAREER — Jazzy Melnyk, a Madonna grad and standout for Franciscan University, is putting the finishing touches on a successful basketball career. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — Jazzlyn Melnyk has had quite the basketball career — without leaving the Ohio Valley.

The former Madonna standout, who finished her high school career as one of the best ever to put on a Blue Dons sweater, is wrapping up her collegiate career at the Franciscan University of Steubenville — and leaving the Barons the same way.

Earlier this month, the fifth-year MBA grad student became the program’s all-time leading rebounder and just the third player in program history to score 1,000 career points. She was already the program’s all-time leader in assists and steals.

“It’s definitely such a rewarding feeling,” Melnyk said. “All of the hard work that nobody sees, the daily grind, all the emotions and ups and downs, the mental and physical grind, it was all worth it.”

For Melnyk, who was an All-State and All-OVAC player for Madonna and helped the Dons to the state tournament in 2021, being able to have that success while just being across the bridge from home has been what she called “a blessing.”

“It’s been such a blessing to play with my family here, the support system is unreal,” she said. “There is no other school like Franciscan. Being able to grow in my faith while furthering my education and getting to play the game I love, I couldn’t be any happier.

“I told my parents that it’s kind of funny that I’ll be graduating in this gym a third time when I graduate with my masters in May — my high school graduation at Madonna was here, too. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it anywhere else.”

She missed the 2023-24 season after tearing her ACL, MCL and meniscus in practice, but has been a starter for the Barons in all four of her seasons at the University.

This season, she averaged more than 12 points and 11 rebounds per game, ranking 24th in NCAA Division III in double-doubles with 13 of them. Entering the final game of the season, she was ranked 15th in the nation in rebounds per game.

The Barons were scheduled to conclude their season on Saturday at Bethany.

“I’m so glad I could leave an impact and be a leader for my team,” Melnyk said. “Hopefully they can continue to build this program up.”

Impact left, indeed.