2024 Oregon post player Ava Heiden commits to Iowa women’s basketball team
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa women’s basketball team has to prepare for when All-Big Ten center Monika Czinano moves on, and Lisa Bluder’s staff has taken a major step in doing that by receiving a verbal commitment from 2024 post player Ava Heiden.
The 6-foot-4 Heiden, who lives near Portland, Oregon, announced her commitment to Iowa via Twitter Sunday afternoon.
As a sophomore, Heiden was named the Pacific Conference player of the year after leading Sherwood High School to an undefeated season and to a state title.
She also has performed well on the AAU circuit, which caught the attention of the Iowa coaches.
Heiden reportedly took visits to nearby Portland and Gonzaga, as well as Utah before picking the Hawkeyes.
By picking Iowa, Heiden will join a program that has had tremendous success with developing post players.
Former Iowa center Megan Gustafson was named the National Player of the Year as a senior in 2019, while Czinano has made first-team All-Big Ten three times, and is now considered one of the top post players in the country as a fifth-year senior.