Alexa Philippou
Multiple Authors
Iowa State women’s basketball star Audi Crooks will probably be entering the switch portal for her last 12 months of collegiate eligibility, she announced on social media Thursday.
Crooks has emerged as one of the vital distinguished faces of women’s school basketball and is the largest identify to enter the switch portal thus far.
The 6-foot-3 junior from Algona, Iowa, completed second within the nation in scoring this 12 months as she additional established herself as one of many nation’s most dominant put up presences. She averaged 25.8 factors and seven.7 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 64.9% from the ground as a junior.
“Thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day,” Crooks wrote in a social media put up directed towards Cyclone Nation. “I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State.
“I nonetheless consider the grass is greener the place you water it, and I’ve accomplished that right here. It’s why I need you to listen to from me instantly that I’ve determined to enter the portal and discover what it means to take root once more in new floor.”
Crooks was just lately named an Associated Press and USBWA second-team All-American and was tabbed to the Wooden Award All-America Team.
She joins 9 different Cyclones in entering the portal.
Speculation swirled about Crooks’ future in Ames after she was requested by ESPN in March whether or not she supposed to complete her collegiate profession at Iowa State, and he or she didn’t reply the query. She was eligible to declare for the 2026 WNBA draft however confirmed she wished to stay in school for a fourth season.
A preseason top-15 group, Iowa State went 22-10 this 12 months, was a No. 8 seed within the NCAA event and completed its season with a disappointing first-round loss to No. 9 seed Syracuse wherein Crooks scored 37 factors.
