Cancer diagnosis latest setback for Iowa's Ava Jones, 8 months after retiring from basketball

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5:54 PM on Saturday, February 8

By DOUG FEINBERG

Former Iowa player Ava Jones announced on social media that she has cancer. Jones said on Instagram Saturday that she has Hodgkin lymphoma. Jones and her family were struck by a car in Kentucky in 2022, just days after she had committed to play for the Hawkeyes. Her father, Trey Jones, died and she suffered a brain injury. Her mom was also injured. Jones’ scholarship was honored by Iowa and she was on the basketball team as a freshman before she medically retired eight months ago. She had several surgeries to address the brain injury as well as the multiple torn ligaments in her knees. She redshirted last season with hopes of playing at some point during her career at Iowa.