When Tyrese Proctor first stepped onto the hardwood in Durham, there was a quiet buzz around the Australian guard. Talented? Absolutely. Promising? For sure. But few could have predicted just how pivotal he’d become for Duke Basketball. Now, fast forward to the 2024-2025 season—and Proctor isn’t just living up to the hype, he’s defining it.
The junior guard has become the beating heart of the Blue Devils, helping fuel their 18th trip to the Final Four. Even before the season tipped off, expectations were sky-high. Proctor landed on the Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List, placing him among the nation’s elite point guards. And from the very start, he proved why.
He dropped double-digit points in 20 games, but one night, in particular, etched his name into highlight reels—a sharpshooting display against No. 1 Kansas, where he drilled five three-pointers and showed he was ready for the big stage. But while Proctor’s game was catching eyes on the court, something else started turning heads off it.
Who is Tyrese Proctor’s girlfriend? Is he still dating Miami volleyball star Ava Carney?
For the most part, Proctor has kept his personal life under wraps. That’s just who he is—locked in, focused, not one for the spotlight beyond basketball. But in February 2024, fans got a rare glimpse into the guard’s world beyond the game.
On Valentine’s Day, in the thick of the NCAA grind, Proctor took a moment to celebrate with someone special—Ava Carney, a rising volleyball star at the University of Miami. What seemed like a private gesture between two college athletes quickly became a public moment when both took to Instagram to mark the day.
Carney posted sweet snapshots on her story, captioned simply: “My Valentine.” Proctor followed suit, reposting one of those moments on his own story. It was subtle, heartfelt—and fans noticed. Within hours, the story was everywhere, with media outlets picking up on the couple’s reveal.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: ACC Conference Tournament Championship Mar 15, 2025 Charlotte, NC, USA Duke Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor 5 reacts after a basket in the second half of the 2025 ACC Conference Championship game against the Louisville Cardinals at Spectrum Center. Charlotte Spectrum Center NC USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xBobxDonnanx 20250315_jhp_sd2_0207
And while details about how or when their relationship began remain private, the public couldn’t help but be intrigued. Was it a chance meeting at a tournament? A mutual friend? Nobody knows for sure.
What does Ava Carney do for a living?
Unlike Proctor, whose game lives above the rim, Carney’s dominance comes from the court too, but with a volleyball in hand and the drive of a true competitor. Ava’s journey began in Rocky River, Ohio, where she attended Magnificat High School, a place that quickly realized it had a volleyball gem in its halls.
As an outside hitter, Carney didn’t just play—she dominated. Her stats said it all: a .345 hitting percentage, a 44.7% kill rate, and nearly 200 kills in a single regular season. That’s not just impressive—it’s elite. But her hunger didn’t stop at the high school level. Outside of school, Ava sharpened her game with Academy Volleyball Cleveland (AVC), one of the region’s premier Junior Olympic clubs.
As part of AVC’s top 17 national team, she competed with and against the best, showing a work ethic and skill set that made college scouts take notice. And then, in 2023, she made her first big move to Wake Forest University. As a freshman, she wasn’t just on the court—she was making an impact. Starting in 16 of 29 matches, she finished second on the team in kills (332) and tallied 57 blocks. She hit double-digit kills in 20 matches, including a breakout performance with 19 kills and 7 blocks against then-No. 11 Georgia Tech.
But like many athletes chasing both growth and opportunity, Carney chose to take the next step. In December 2023, she transferred to the University of Miami, joining a program ready to push her further. However, the 2024 season brought its share of challenges.
Carney appeared in 19 of 33 matches, starting in 15. Unfortunately, she missed 14 games due to injury—a tough break for any athlete. But when she was healthy? She showed exactly why she belonged at the top level. She racked up 127 kills, 61 digs, and 28 blocks, all while fighting to stay in rhythm and return to form.
Though she’s often mentioned in headlines as “Tyrese Proctor’s girlfriend,” the truth is—Ava Carney is a phenom in her own right. Do you agree?
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