Iowa’s Ava Jones retires from college basketball

Iowa women’s basketball forward Ava Joneswho was seriously injured by a drunk driver in 2022, will receive a medical disqualification and retire from the college game, Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen announced Friday.

The decision was made after consulting with the team’s doctors and sports trainers. Jones will continue the scholarship and continue working toward his degree. His scholarship does not count toward the limit of 15 active players.

Jones was with the Hawkeyes last season but was never medically cleared to play.

“I would like to start by saying how grateful I am to have been a part of the Iowa women’s basketball program,” Jones wrote in a social media message. “It is with great sadness that I announce that I am medically retiring from college basketball. My coaches, doctors, teammates and athletic trainers have been incredible since the accident. Although I will no longer be a member of the women’s basketball program, I will continue to be on scholarship, receive a world-class education and forever be a Hawkeye.

“I would like to thank my family for their endless support and I am excited for the next chapter of my life.”

Jones’ father, Trey Jones, died while she and her mother, Amy Jones, were injured on July 5, 2022, when a drunk driver hit them when he turned onto a sidewalk in Louisville, Kentucky, where Ava was competing on a court. AAU basketball. tournament. The Jones family is from Nickerson, Kansas.

Ava Jones suffered a traumatic brain injury, torn ligaments in both knees and a shoulder injury. Amy Jones suffered a brain injury and 21 broken bones. Trey Jones died at the hospital after the crash.

The driver, Michael Hurley, was indicted by a grand jury and charged with one count of murder, two counts of first-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree assault and one count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. According to the police report, Hurley said he had taken the opioid hydrocodone before driving. He was on probation for drug charges at the time of the crash.

The 6-foot-2 Jones, ranked No. 83 by ESPN HoopGurlz for the class of 2023, originally committed to Arizona State but was later released after coach Charli Turner Thorne retired. Jones reopened his recruiting and announced his commitment to Iowa on July 3, 2022, two days before the accident. Iowa announced immediately after the accident that he would remain on the scholarship regardless of whether he could play.

“We wish Ava the best on the road to recovery and fully support the decision she made to step away from the game,” Jensen said. “She worked tirelessly to get to this point, but she made the best decision for herself and her well-being.”