Ames, Iowa — During the recent statewide meet-and-greet tour held by the Cyclone Club in Algona, Iowa State’s women’s basketball coach, Bill Fennelly, gained a fresh appreciation for the rising star, Audi Crooks. Her line for autographs far exceeded that of football coach Matt Campbell, which is a remarkable feat.
Crooks’ popularity in the Algona community has been longstanding, stemming from her exceptional scoring achievements at Bishop Garrigan High School, as well as her enthusiastic involvement in various youth activities. This small town of 5,000 is located about two hours from Iowa State’s campus in Ames, where Crooks is carving out a name for herself on a larger scale. In her freshman season, she surpassed initial expectations to become a unanimous All-Big 12 first-team center, making a significant impact on a national stage by scoring 40 points against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament.
As the season approaches, Crooks has already been recognized as an honorable mention for the preseason Associated Press All-America team. She and three returning starters propel No. 8 Iowa State into a highly anticipated season that kicks off on Monday with a game against Chicago State. Crooks seems poised to become one of the prominent figures in women’s college basketball. The 19-year-old, known for her bright smile and engaging personality, expressed surprise at the sudden attention her performance has attracted. “I never anticipated all the attention and the spotlight,” she mentioned. “I’ve tried to handle it with grace. Any attention I can bring to Iowa State women’s basketball and the women’s basketball movement I will happily do.”
In high school, Crooks amassed an impressive total of 2,734 points, ranking her third among Iowa girls for all time. She also set a record with 49 points during the 2023 Class 1A state tournament championship game. Despite concerns about her ability to transition swiftly to competitive college basketball from the smallest class in Iowa, expectations were overcome, including doubts regarding her skill set and whether she could match the game’s tempo.
Fennelly recounted that many were skeptical about her capabilities. “Most people thought she couldn’t do it,” he said. However, preparation played a crucial role. Thanks to Erin Brocka, the program’s director of strength and conditioning, Crooks followed a tailored program to prepare her for the rigorous demands of her first collegiate season. Initially, Crooks aimed for around 10 minutes of playtime per game, but she went on to average 26 minutes. Fennelly had higher hopes, suggesting she could average 10 points and five rebounds. Remarkably, Crooks exceeded these expectations, joining the starting five early in the season and ultimately averaging 19.2 points per game while achieving a shooting percentage of 57.7%. This standing was the best among Division I freshmen last season, as she set a school record for freshmen with 635 points, surpassing Megan Taylor’s previous milestone of 460 points set in 1997-98.
Emily Ryan, a senior guard, reflected on Crooks’ amazing performance by stating, “Anyone would be lying if they said they expected it. You can’t anticipate that much of a boom right away. It was so cool to see, though.” Crooks had an impressive record of scoring at least 20 points in 17 games, with eight double-doubles and ten or more rebounds in eight games.
Her most memorable performance came during the NCAA Tournament against Maryland, where she led the team to overcome a 20-point deficit, scoring 40 points and achieving the fourth instance in program history of such a scoring feat. Crooks shot an impressive 90%, placing her alongside renowned players like Bill Walton from UCLA for similarly high efficiency in a tournament game. This remarkable achievement brought unprecedented attention to her, far beyond what Fennelly had envisioned. “Her world changed when we played Maryland,” Fennelly noted. “That weekend, her life changed probably forever.”
Alongside the accolades, Crooks has dealt with critical remarks about her physique. Having faced bullying in her youth due to her size, she has learned to disregard negative comments. “It doesn’t matter what you do in life, there’s always going to be somebody that’s telling you can’t or you shouldn’t or you don’t look the part,” she stated. Crooks now embraces the attention, responding to the feelings of negativity with a positive attitude and gratitude for her audience.
Fennelly and her teammates highlight Crooks’ innate ability to attract fans; she is known for her sociable nature. With the departure of Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark to the WNBA, Crooks is stepping into a role as a prominent women’s athletic figure in the state. “I don’t know if I ever have been around someone more ready to handle it,” Fennelly commented. “She understands who she is and what she means to our state and what she means to our program.”