Power, Precision, and a Rising Iowa Hoops Star You Can’t Ignore
Audi Crooks didn’t just win a holiday tournament in Fort Myers; she stamped herself as one of the faces of women’s college basketball. The six-foot-three junior center from Algona, Iowa, poured in a school-record 47 points on 19-of-25 shooting in tenth ranked Iowa State’s 106–95 win over Indiana to claim the Coconut Hoops Blue Heron championship, breaking the single-game mark, she’d already set earlier this season. That performance pushed the Cyclones to 9–0 and kept them unbeaten while she climbed to 27.3 points per game on a ridiculous 74.4 percent from the field, leading Division I in field-goal percentage and ranking among the nation’s top scorers. For a player who debuted in March Madness with 40 points on 18-of-20 shooting against Maryland as a freshman, Sunday’s eruption felt less like a breakout and more like the next chapter in a dominant curve. Crooks has become the anchor of Bill Fennelly’s offense, a low post pivot whose touch, footwork, and conditioning now dictate the tempo of almost every possession.
What makes Crooks’ latest masterpiece even more impactful is how it reshapes Iowa State’s ceiling in the national conversation. Against Indiana, she scored from every angle; deep seals, spin moves, short jumpers, while still finding time to help on the glass and command double-teams that opened rhythm threes for a Cyclones offense already posting multiple 100-point outings this season. After setting Iowa State single-season records as a sophomore with 820 points on 60.5 percent shooting and averaging 23.4 points and 7.5 boards, Audi has somehow leveled up, turning routine Big 12 nights into efficiency clinics. Her presence inside forces opponents to pick their poison: load up the paint and concede open looks to Iowa State’s shooters, or guard straight up and watch her carve up single coverage. That gravitational pull is why the Cyclones are not just a top 10 team on paper, but a legitimate Final Four threat if number 55 is patrolling the lane.
Off the court, Crooks’ dominance is already translating into a powerful NIL portfolio; and this season could send it into another tier. She’s inked at least 10 reported deals with brands ranging from ClaimDOC and the Iowa Cubs to RAYGUN, The NIL Store, Make-A-Wish Iowa, US cellular, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, leaning into partnerships that reflect her Iowa roots and community-driven image. As her scoring numbers spike and Iowa State climbs the rankings, her marketability only grows: a high-usage, ultra-efficient star in a basketball-crazy state with a relatable, joyful personality is NIL gold. With at least one more season of eligibility and legitimate pro upside, Crooks is positioning herself as the next must-see post presence in the women’s game, think “Female Shaq” vibes with a modern branding engine behind her. If Sunday’s 47-point demolition of Indiana is any indication, Audi Crooks isn’t just Iowa State’s player of the week; she’s rapidly becoming one of the most important players in college basketball, on the floor and in the NIL era.
