Ava Jones, a sophomore from Iowa, has declared her retirement from collegiate basketball. A drunk driver struck Jones and her family on a Louisville sidewalk on July 5, 2022, causing her to sustain a severe brain injury, broken ligaments in both knees, and a shoulder injury. Jones was ranked as one of ESPN’s top 100 recruits.
“Let me begin by expressing my gratitude for being a part of the Iowa women’s basketball programme. I consider myself very fortunate to have shared in the experience from the previous season,” Jones posted on social media. I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from collegiate basketball due to health concerns. Since the accident, my teammates, coaches, physicians, and trainers have all been incredible.”
“Even though I’m leaving the women’s basketball team, I’ll still be a lifetime Hawkeye, receive a top-notch education, and remain on scholarship.” I am eager for the next phase of my life and would want to thank my family for their unwavering support.”
An excerpt from the news release, provided by Iowa Athletics, is included below.
After consulting with team physicians and athletic trainers, University of Iowa sophomore forward Ava Jones, MD, has decided to accept a medical disqualification and retire from collegiate basketball. Jan Jensen, head coach of women’s basketball, made this announcement on Friday.
Jones will continue to attend the University of Iowa on scholarship and pursue her degree there. She was not permitted to participate in the Iowa 2023–24 season.
“We wish Ava the best on the road to recovery and fully support the decision she made to step away from the game,” Jensen stated. “She worked tirelessly to get to this point, but she made the best decision for herself and her well-being.”
In high school, Jones was a powerful athlete who excelled in a variety of sports and on the court. During her junior year at Nickerson, the Kansas native averaged 20.8 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. In the class 3A semifinals, she assisted in leading the Panthers, ranked second, to a loss against Hugoton, ranked third. In the third-place match, Nickerson was defeated by Silver Lake, the top-seeded team.
She is a member of this group. She is a member of this team on scholarship. During last year’s Media Day, Lisa Bluder, the former head coach of Iowa, stated, “She’s at practice when she can be.” “However, we arrange for many of her treatment appointments to take place during practice, merely to enable her to attend courses. She’s performing admirably at school.We will do everything in our power to help her get better despite the tragic circumstances. Is she going to play basketball someday? Who knows? I don’t care about that. It is now our duty to get her well as quickly as possible.”
