Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) reacts as she runs to the bench in January. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AMES — Audi Crooks will always call Algona home.

That sense of community allowed Crooks to form a unique bond with a West Des Moines company and its chief executive officer, who has written his own success story after growing up — like Crooks — in the northern Iowa town of 5,300 people.

The Iowa State freshman basketball sensation recently agreed to a multi-year Name, Image, Likeness deal with ClaimDOC, a medical claim auditing company that is dedicated to providing fair payment solutions for health plans.

Crooks is a multi-time Bishop Garrigan all-stater and the 2023 Miss Iowa Basketball. The ClaimDOC CEO is 49-year-old Ben Krambeck, who grew up in Algona himself.

“As an Algona native, I couldn’t be prouder of all that Audi has accomplished during her first year at Iowa State,” Krambeck said. “I’ve been following Audi singe her time at Bishop Garrigan and admired her attitude and success across multiple activities — from sports to music.

“I was surprised when some doubted she’d have a successful transition playing college ball. Whether it’s business or athletics, some people just love to compete. That is ClaimDOC, and that is Audi.”

Crooks, the daughter of the late Jimmie Crooks — a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate — and ex-Garrigan all-stater Michelle (Vitzthum) Cook, immediately connected with both Krambeck and ClaimDOC’s core philosophies.

“I don’t know a lot about insurance, but I love ClaimDOC’s story and the culture Ben has built there,” Crooks said. “We have a lot of similarities, being from the same town and having those same small-town values.

“With our connections, it was a natural fit. And I’m excited to represent an Iowa company that cares so much about their employees and the community.”

Crooks will be a brand ambassador for the company, appearing in advertisements while participating in ClaimDOC community efforts and employee events. She will serve as a celebrity referee at the company’s annual 6-on-6 basketball tournament. A ClaimDOC advertisement with Crooks is currently on display at the Des Moines International Airport.

Krambeck started ClaimDOC in 2013 from the basement of his Des Moines home. Today, ClaimDOC has nearly 150 local employees and clients across the country.

Crooks and Krambeck will film a “walk down memory lane” video in Algona later this year.

“The opportunity for NIL agreements has opened doors for many Iowa State athletes, and we’re happy to be able to make these connections between student-athletes and local Iowa companies,” said Brent Blum, executive director of the “We Will” Collective at ISU. “We get excited when there are natural connections like this, and we can’t wait to see how Audi and ClaimDOC tell their stories through this partnership.”

ClaimDOC is a national medical claim auditing and member advocacy company driven to help employers deliver a successful and sustainable health plan for their employees. Using reference based pricing (RBP) principles, clients typically save 30 percent within the first year of switching to ClaimDOC from a traditional carrier/network program.

Crooks, who is averaging 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting over 58 percent from the field, was named a first team all-Big 12 selection earlier this month. Her Cyclones square off with Maryland in the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Stanford, Calif. at 6:30 p.m.