Audi Crooks has made a name for herself in basketball, both before and during her time with the Iowa State Cyclones. Her high school career was marked by overwhelming dominance, and she has carried that success into her college career. Crooks’s impact on the Iowa State team was felt almost instantly.
High School Dominance
Before joining Iowa State, Audi Crooks starred at Bishop Garrigan High School. She scored 49 points in the 2023 Iowa Class 1A state title game. It was a statement performance, showing she was operating at a different level.
Crooks earned First Team All-State honours in Class 1A in each of her four years with the Golden Bears. Bishop Garrigan went 101-8 during her high school career. Crooks also set a new single-season record for points in a season with 889.
She set new state tournament records for most points in a single game (49), most points in a tournament (117), most rebounds in a tournament (45) and rebounds in a career (160).
Crooks also excelled in track and field. Her strength translated to success in shot put and discus.
She claimed the Class 1A title in shot put her sophomore and senior years with throws of 41-09.75 and 44-00.75 respectively. Her personal record in shot put is 45-1. In 2022, Crooks won the Class 1A title in discus with a throw of 131-5.
Making an Impact at Iowa State
Crooks wears No. 55 because both her parents wore that number. As she emerged in middle school and high school, choosing her number was an easy decision.
In her first March Madness game against No. 10 seeded Maryland, Crooks scored 40 points. This came from 18-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. She also had 12 rebounds in the 93-86 victory.
She recorded eight double-doubles in her freshman year. It wasn’t just potential, it was production.
Big 12 Success
Crooks faced tough competition in Big 12 play. She consistently imposed her will against elite front courts.
In a 96-93 double overtime victory over Ayoka Lee and No. 7 Kansas State on Valentine’s Day 2024, Crooks scored 20 points. Six of those points came in the extra periods.
“Last year, I was at home in high school watching [Lee],” Crooks said following the win. “She’s somebody that I kind of admire… Being able to play her, compete against her and then win against her team just meant a lot to me.”
The Cyclones identity shifted almost instantly with the arrival of Crooks.