Ava Jones, a sophomore forward for Iowa who was struck by a drunk driver and suffered catastrophic injuries as a pedestrian before joining the Hawkeyes, will accept a medical disqualification and give up playing collegiate basketball. Following Jones’ consultation with the team physician and athletic trainers, Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen announced the announcement on Friday. Although she was not authorized to play for Iowa in the 2023–24 season, she will continue to pursue her degree in sports media and culture while staying on scholarship.
Jones said on social media on Friday, “I would like to start by saying how grateful I am to have been a part of the Iowa women’s basketball program.” “I am extremely blessed to have been a part of the journey last season.”I regret to inform you that I will be retiring from collegiate basketball due to health issues. Since the accident, my teammates, coaches, doctors, and trainers have all been incredible. I’ll always be a Hawkeye, continue to receive a top-notch education, and be on scholarship even though I’m leaving the women’s basketball team.I am eager for the next phase of my life and would want to thank my family for their unwavering support.”
The six-two When Jones committed to Iowa on July 3, 2022, she was a standout student at Nickerson (Kan.) High School and ranked No. 83 in ESPN’s HoopGurlz player rankings for the Class of 2023. A drunk motorist struck Jones and her family on a walk two days later when they were in Louisville for an AAU basketball tournament. The vehicle had drifted into the sidewalk. Her mother, Amy Jones, sustained 21 fractured bones and a brain damage, while her father, Trey Jones, was slain. Creek Jones, her younger brother, was slightly hurt. Amy Jones sustained a ruptured ligament in each knee, a strained shoulder, and a traumatic brain injury. Iowa declared Jones would continue to receive a scholarship.
