The Rise of Audi Crooks: A Legacy Built Beyond the Box Score
- karinnaleonard
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
NCAA women's basketball is filled with promising young stars. The games are fast, physical, and unpredictable. But if there is one constant this season, it is the continued dominance of Audi Crooks.
The Iowa State center has been a fixture at the top of the stat sheet in nearly every game she plays. Through 15 games played this season, Crooks is averaging an astounding 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 69.1% from the field. Her production has helped propel her team to a 14-3 start, highlighted by a statement 74-69 win over number 11-ranked Iowa.
Despite her overwhelming success, Crooks remains committed to ongoing improvement. Following Iowa State's 72-70 loss to Baylor, she was notably critical of her own performance, saying, "My field goal percentage? Trash. To my standards, that's trash. I can't let that happen again." That night, she finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 55% from the floor—numbers that would be considered elite for most players.
Crooks later expanded on her mindset while discussing the team's long-term goals. When reminded that it was only January, she responded, "Yeah, that's huge. You don't want to play your best basketball in January. You don't want to be a monster in January—you want to be a monster in March. And in order to do that, you need to recognize your flaws. You need to recognize your shortcomings, and if you don't lose, if we would have won today, [those stats] seem a lot less significant. When you lose it really just puts everything out there. You have to look in that mirror and recognize what you need to do better."
That mentality has become a defining trait of Crooks' game. She is relentlessly driven and remarkably well spoken. She holds herself to an extremely high standard and is consistently quick to credit her teammates and praise them for their success. These qualities have made Crooks an excellent leader and a valuable teammate. As of now, Crooks leads the nation in total points and points per game, while also ranking second in overall field goal percentage. This combination of volume and efficiency reveals just how dominant she has been.
After hitting her head in their matchup against Iowa, Audi Crooks was forced to miss the Cyclones' next game against Northern Iowa. Any concern about lingering symptoms vanished when she returned in the following game against Kansas and delivered a staggering 41-point performance. That outing was not an outlier. Earlier in the year, Crooks rattled off five straight games with at least 30 points. At just 21 years old, she is dominating the national landscape statistically with impressive consistency and composure.
Beyond that dominance is a story shaped by loss and enduring through impossible moments. Crooks wears number 55 on her jersey, which holds a deep personal significance. Both of her parents played basketball and wore 55, making the choice an easy one. In 2021, when she was just 16 years old, her father Jimmie Crooks passed away due to health complications after suffering multiple heart attacks and losing most of his vision. The number has since become a symbol of remembrance and the foundation that her father instilled in her.
During last year's March Madness tournament, Crooks shared how that connection continues to guide her on and off the court. She explained: "Before every game, I just try to take a moment and I pray, and I am kind of seeking guidance from my father, who passed away when I was 16. I just try to kind of take a second and ground myself and tap into my spiritual side and just know that everything's going to be okay. He's got the best seat in the house."
That grounding presence has helped shape Crooks into more than just a dominant scorer. Paired with her relentless drive, Audi Crooks has become a leader, a competitor, and one of the most compelling players in women's college basketball. She is above all a role model and a thrilling player to watch. As her game continues to evolve, Crooks is building a legacy that extends far beyond the box score.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette