Iowa gets its second 2023 commitment in less than a week

6-foot-2 ahead from Nickerson (Kan.) initially picked Arizona State, however reopened her recruiting course of after a training change

Ava Jones dedicated to the Iowa ladies’s basketball program Sunday.

IOWA CITY — Lisa Bluder bought a second shot at Ava Jones, and capitalized.

An athletic 6-foot-2 ahead from Kansas, Jones introduced her dedication to the College of Iowa ladies’s basketball group Sunday.

“They’ve bought a profitable tradition, they bought an enormous fan base, they’ve bought Iowa Metropolis,” Jones instructed The Gazette. “They’ve bought all the things.”

The Hawkeyes “actually didn’t recruit me the primary time round,” mentioned Jones, who initially dedicated to Arizona State, then reopened the recruiting course of after a training change at ASU.

“However (assistant) Abby (Stamp) watched me at a number of tournaments, reached out to my membership, then reached out to me.

“I bought on the cellphone with Coach Bluder, and the dialog felt simple. I met the group, and I knew for certain that this was the place for me.”

Jones averaged 20.8 factors, 15.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals her recreation as a junior as Nickerson Excessive College completed 23-3 and positioned fourth within the Kansas Class 3A state event.

“I believe I’m versatile, I can do just about something,” Jones mentioned. “I’m most snug going through up within the low publish, however I’m engaged on increasing my recreation outdoors.”

She is ranked 83rd nationally amongst 2023 recruits by ESPN. She is Iowa’s second piece of the 2023 class, becoming a member of Illinois guard Kenisse Johnson-Etienne, who dedicated Thursday.

Feedback: jeff.linder@thegazette.com