Iowa’s Ava Jones will medically retire from college basketball

IOWA CITY — Everybody was rooting for her, clinging to hope.

But the against-all-odds, storybook ending is now off the table for Ava Jones.

The University of Iowa announced Friday that Jones will take a medical disqualification, and will retire from college basketball.

The announcement was made following discussions between head coach Jan Jensen, team doctors and athletic trainers.

“I would like to start by saying how grateful I am to have been a part of the Iowa women’s basketball program,” Jones said on social media. “I am extremely blessed to have been part of the journey last season.”

Jones will be a sophomore this fall in Iowa City and will continue to work toward her degree.

She will remain on scholarship, but that scholarship no longer will count toward Iowa’s maximum of 15, which means the program can add a player if it so chooses.

Jones committed to Iowa between her junior and senior years at Nickerson (Kan.) High School, on July 3, 2022.

Two days later, while on an AAU trip in Louisville, Ky., Jones and her family were struck while walking on the sidewalk by a car driven by a man under the influence.

Ava, her father Trey and her mother Amy all suffered massive injuries. Trey died three days later. He was 42.

Amy suffered 21 broken bones and a stroke. Ava suffered a brain injury, a broken collarbone and massive damage to both knees.

Ava recovered enough to attend Iowa as a freshman, but the knee injuries proved to be too much for her to compete at a high level. She was not cleared to play for Iowa’s 2023-24 season.

“It is great sadness to announce that I am medically retiring from college basketball,” Jones said. “My coaches, doctors, teammates and trainers have been amazing since the accident. While I will no longer be a member of the women’s basketball program, I will still be on scholarship, receive a world-class education and forever be a Hawkeye.”

As a high school junior, Jones averaged 20.8 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She was the No. 83 recruit of the 2023 class by ESPN.

“We wish Ava the best on the road to recovery and fully support the decision she made to step away from the game,” Jensen said in a statement. “She worked tirelessly to get to this point, but she made the best decision for herself and her well-being.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com