Kiah Stokes picks UConn

MARION - It's UConn.Linn-Mar's Kiah Stokes said Thursday afternoon that she has orally committed to play women's basketball next year for Coach Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut.The 6-foot-3 senior center picked the two time defending national champions over Georgia, Iowa, Maryland and Tennessee.Stokes has helped lead Linn-Mar to a 72-4 record and three trips to the the state tournament in her high school career. The Lions broke through and won the Class 4A championship last year, beating Des Moines East, 38-35, in the final.She is the lone returning starter from that team.Ranked the No. 42 senior in the country by ESPN's hoopgurlz.com, Stokes made official visits to each of the five finalists this fall. Her father, Greg, played for Iowa from 1981 through 1985 and ranks third on the Hawkeyes' all-time scoring list. Her former Linn-Mar teammate Jaime Printy, is a sophomore at Iowa.As a junior, Stokes averaged 19.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Her 374 career blocks rank seventh all-time in Iowa, and she has an opportunity to break the state career record of 497, owned by Jessica Nikkel of Lynnville-Sully (1995-99).She could finish in the top five in career rebounds; she currently ranks 27th with 867.

Stokes has played for USA Basketball youth teams the last two summers.With the decision out of the way, Stokes' focus goes back to volleyball for the next week. Linn-Mar qualified for the state volleyball tournament and will face Iowa City West in a quarterfinal Wednesday afternoon.