ALGONA – Iowa State women’s basketball player Audi Crooks has just finished taking a group photo with volunteers and participants at her July 22 camp at Bishop Garrigan High School. But before departing for the day, Crooks asks everyone there a quick question.
“Who wants an autograph?” Crooks asks.
The words are barely out of her mouth and a long line of kids gathers near Crooks, holding out basketballs, pictures, shirts and even a shoe for her to sign. Crooks, even after two sessions of the camp, makes sure to autograph every item for every person.
“It just makes me grateful,” Crooks said.
Crooks has a lot to be thankful for these days. The sophom*ore-to-be at Iowa State is already a star in women’s college basketball. After a scintillating freshman season with the Cyclones, many expect her to become one of the faces of the game in 2024-25.
“She’s going to be one of those players that we’re all just super excited to grow with and have an eye on," ESPN women’s basketball broadcaster Ryan Ruocco said. "And obviously she’s just at the beginning of her college journey.”
Crooks who has been a celebrity of sorts around her hometown of Algona for years. But with another big season, Crooks’ stock could soar, making her a household name across the country.
"Nobody's surprised around here because we've watched it for years," said Bishop Garrigan girls basketball coach Brandon Schwab. "It might be new to somebody else but that's Audi to us."
Crooks' fame rises in Algona
The attention began before Crooks even got to high school. But not in a good way. Crooks, who was always bigger than most of the kids her age, was bullied while she was growing up. Other kids teased her about her size and how she didn't look like them. She was even picked last for an activity in physical education class.
“You know how kids are,” Crooks said. “If you’re different, then they’re going to point that out.”
Crooks tried to embrace looking differently. And when she got to fourth grade and saw her height take off with a growth spurt, she was determined to advantage of it. With her size and strength, Crooks could tower over opponents on the basketball court and back them into the post.
As her basketball skills shined, the teasing stopped and the worshipping began. Crooks didn't want to let her skillset go to waste. She started by shooting hoops in the driveway with her mom, Michelle Cook, a standout high school basketball player back in her day as well. Eventually, she moved to the Bishop Garrigan gym.
Crooks showed up to the gym almost daily. From eighth grade on, Schwab said he can only recall a few days that Crooks took a day off, even asking for the keys one Thanksgiving Day. She spent hours there, honing her skills by doing drills, working on her moves in the post or shooting free throws.
It made her into a star on and off the court. Crooks was a standout on the club circuit, playing for C.Y. Select. She received scholarship offers before she even started high school (from Illinois State and Northern Iowa). More offers quickly poured in.
When Crooks got to high school, the spotlight shined even brighter. She received autograph requests and fan mail. Fans flocked to gyms to see her. When she visited Cinco de Mayo, her favorite restaurant in town, Crooks sometimes didn't have to pay for a meal.
Garrigan's gym, which had a capacity of around 1,100, was constantly full for her games. It got so packed that one night, Schwab said coaches from Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, Arizona and Minnesota had to stand under the basket to watch the game.
"It'd be a Tuesday night and there would be standing room only," Schwab said.
Crooks had it all. She was energetic, vibrant and happy. She threw the shot put, marched in the band, sang in the choir and played volleyball. But basketball brought out the best in her. She smiled after makes, celebrated big moments with her teammates and cheered on victories for Bishop Garrigan.
That bubbly personality is part of what drew fans to her. Basketball seemed to bring it out even more.
"She just loves it (basketball)," Cook said. "She just loves to see her work pay off because it's a lot of work for her. It's a lot of sacrifice."
Crooks guided Bishop Garrigan to four trips to the state title game. They won the final two. During the last game of her career, Crooks set an all-class state-tournament record with 49 points in the Class 1A championship game in 2023.
She was about to become more than a hometown hero, though.
"Audi Crooks is my favorite player in basketball"
Ruocco was calling last season's Cy-Hawk basketball game for ESPN when he got a text message from Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach and basketball analyst. Crooks, who was still early in her college career, was having a breakout performance, tallying 15 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Hawkeyes.
"Audi Crooks is my favorite player in basketball," Van Gundy wrote.
That's when Ruocco realized Iowa State had something special in Crooks.
"I thought that's a pretty good sign that her following is only growing," Ruocco said.
Crooks steadily earned more playing time early in the season, eventually becoming the focal point of the offense. Crooks averaged a team-high 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Iowa State was one of the surprise stories in all of college basketball. The Cyclones, who had lost much of their roster to the transfer portal during the offseason, went to the Big 12 Conference Tournament title game and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Crooks was a big reason for Iowa State's success. She became a fan favorite in Ames and a celebrity in her new hometown. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark went out of his way to speak with Crooks about how much he appreciated her game after sitting courtside for her Big 12 Tournament semifinals performance (25 points, 9 rebounds in victory over Oklahoma).
Crooks' name went viral when she tallied 40 points in a win over Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. WNBA star Aliya Boston raved on social media about Crooks’ performance. NBA star LeBron James gave her a shoutout later on.
Crooks suddenly was learning what it's like to be in the national spotlight.
"A lot of people saw that just because it is such a big stage," Crooks said.
Eye-popping stats aren't the only thing that makes Crooks so popular, though. Ruocco said the style she plays with, as a dominant post player, gets people interested in her. How she does it − with a joyful personality − keeps them watching.
Former Iowa star Caitlin Clark had her swagger. Crooks has her smile.
"I think the fact that she plays with this infectious energy and confidence in who is is, I think that draws people in," Ruocco said.
Although Iowa State fell a game short of the Sweet 16, the powerful performance set the stage for an offseason full of attention for Crooks. She can no longer go to the mall without being recognized. She was stopped by employees during a trip to Scheel's in Sioux City. Crooks was even recognized during a trip to an out-of-state beach.
Crooks' fame has led to NIL (name, image and likeness) income and endorsem*nts. She has inked deals with Topps, Fareway Stores, the Iowa State Book Store and Kenma Auto Center.
Owner Carey Kenma said one visit to a Kenma dealership brought around 500 visitors. Another had close to 200. One of the visitors was a young boy from Newell-Fonda, one of Crooks' high school rival schools. He brought roses for her.
Kenma said he wanted to strike a deal with Crooks early on, before the iron really gets hot.
"This girl is just a great person, and it was the person that she is that attracted me to her, not her basketball skills," Kenma said. "Her basketball skills are just the icing on the cake."
What's next for Crooks? An even bigger sophom*ore season, potentially
Expectations are high for Crooks and the Cyclones in 2024-25. Iowa State brings back most of its roster from last season's talented team, including the rising star. Her summer has been spent trying to get even better. Crooks said she has worked on her 3-point shooting and defense, areas in which she expects to see significant improvement.
It's possible that Crooks is just scratching the surface of her potential. More success would mean more stardom. Ruocco says she's already one of the biggest names in college's women's basketball. A deep NCAA Tournament run could make her a superstar in the sport, men or women.
Clark guided the Hawkeyes to back-to-back appearances in the national title game. Iowa's success gave fans lots of opportunities to watch Clark on national TV and follow her journey. Ruocco said Crooks could do the same thing.
"Your stardom only grows if you produce and if the wins come," he said. "But as long as those things come along, then yes, she will, I think she will definitely become one of those household names and somebody who people enjoy watching."
Back in Algona, Crooks is as popular as ever. Her games are routinely televised at Cinco de Mayo. When she goes home and makes a visit at the restaurant, fans will routinely stop her for photographs or autographs. Her camp at the high school was a huge hit, with fans throughout the state driving to Algona to learn from Crooks.
Lindsey Sprecher, whose family is full of Iowa fans, has been so impressed with Crooks that she brought her daughter to the camp to learn from one of the Hawkeyes' biggest rivals.
"She's been awesome for her to look up to," Sprecher said.
Crooks said she's ready for the responsibility that comes with being a basketball icon.
"It's a great honor," Crooks said. "I carry that with a lot of pride and I've just got to make sure to keep doing my thing."
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball: Is Audi Crooks the next college superstar?
