Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Bishop Garrigan’s Audi Crooks is presented the IGHSAU ‘top producer’ award at state basketball by executive director Jean Berger in Des Moines.

After winning a second state championship with her Bishop Garrigan teammates, Audi Crooks celebrated.

She returned to Algona for a welcome-home event, where she was greeted by family, friends and fans.

Crooks didn’t stay long, though. She boarded a bus to Mississippi for a scheduled mission trip, where she and her classmates will pack food and help the underprivileged.

No rest for the weary.

Crooks is the same person off the court as the basketball player on it: she works hard to improve her surroundings and make life easier — and better — for the people she gets to know along the way.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead,” Crooks said. “This is a great experience (traveling to the south), to be able to help people when they need it.

“This mission trip is something to help others and do things for them.”

Crooks’ entire body of work on the court was already historic. On Monday, Crooks’ final chapter included an Iowa Print Sports Writers Association first team all-state honor and the coveted Miss Iowa Basketball award for 2023.

Crooks found out about the selection on the way to Mississippi.

“This is a huge deal and I’m super proud of the work,” Crooks said. “To be the recipient of this award makes me want to work even harder.”

In her final season on the court, Crooks re-wrote Iowa’s record books and turned in a closing performance for the record books inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“This is a neat award for Audi,” said Garrigan head coach Brandon Schwab. “Being named the best player in the state in all five classes is a big honor. That’s an award that is special, and as the season ends, she will be celebrated and recognized as the best player.”

Crooks scored a state-record 889 points in her senior season, averaging 32.9 points per game while also grabbing 14.3 rebounds a night.

Her state tournament run was jaw dropping. Crooks scored a tournament record 117 points, while also breaking records for points in a game (49), career tourney points (332) and career tourney rebounds (160). She averaged 27.6 points and 13.3 rebounds per contest.

Crook’s career numbers put her in an elite class of Iowa’s history. She is the third-all-time leading scorer (2,734) and rebounds (1,339).

“The past four years have been the best of my life,” Crooks said. “I genuinely have found family members (at Bishop Garrigan). Any time I have a bad day or need something they have my back.

“These last four years have been instrumental in me becoming the person I am.”

Crooks ranks second all-time in career field goal percentage at .724 (1195 of 1649 from the floor). The state record (.744) is held by Tammi Blackstone of Cherokee, a 1996 graduate. Crooks also finished with the most made field goals (1195) of any player.

As her high school career ends and her college time at Iowa State is set to begin in a few months, Crooks will make the necessary adjustments to playing at Iowa State.

“When you are at the top level, you are going to have a few people who find flaws in your game,” Schwab said. “For as many that doubt her, there are 50 that know she is going to be a great college player.

“Whether she scores a lot of points in the Big 12 or not, she is going to mean more to Iowa State than just (being) a basketball player. When she gets with a Division I strength and conditioning coach and is not in volleyball or track and will be about basketball for 12 months — I don’t doubt she is going to be a great Division I player.”

Crooks is top recruit in the state of Iowa and is ranked 57th nationally. She has full trust in Cyclone women’s head coach Bill Fennelly.

“I am so excited to get down to Ames to work,” Crooks said. “I’ve watched them play and have had good conversations. I’m ready for the challenge.”

Schwab knows the Cyclones will benefit from having both Crooks the player and Crooks the person in their program.

“Coach Fennelly is going to get an unbelievable and unstoppable player in the paint,” Schwab said. “Audi is a very coachable player who is willing to adjust. She is a wonderful person and a great teammate.

“I’m glad that we are keeping her in the state of Iowa. Now we can drive about two hours to go watch her again.”

Crooks is the fourth Miss Basketball from the area, joining Kris Huffman of Fort Dodge (1985), Jennifer Jorgensen of Southeast Webster-Grand (2008) and Elle Ruffridge of Pocahontas Area (2017). The award has been given to the top female player in the state of Iowa annually since 1981.