IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder announced the 2021-22 signing class on Wednesday with Sydney Affolter, AJ Ediger, and Addison O’Grady signing National Letters of Intent. The Hawkeyes’ latest recruiting class is ranked No. 20 by espnW HoopGurlz.
“This makes back-to-back top-20 ranked recruiting classes, and that bodes very well for the future of Iowa basketball,” Bluder said. “These three women will make great Hawkeyes in every realm — athletically, academically and socially.”
Sydney Affolter | 5-11 | Guard
Chicago, Ill. (Marist)
The Affolter File
Plays at Marist High School under head coach Mary Pat Connolly
Three-time all-state, all-region, and East Suburban All-Conference first team honoree
Two-time state qualifier for Queen of the Hill 3-Point Shootout
Named to the Montini Christmas All-Tournament first team as a sophomore as well as the State Farm Holiday Classic and Grow the Game all-tournament teams as a junior
Scored her 1000th point and pulled in her 500th rebound during her junior season
Averaged 14.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game during her junior season
During her sophomore season, she
averaged 17.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game
As a freshman, she averaged 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game
Contributed to two regional championships (2018, 2020) and helped team to three consecutive second-place finishes in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship
Played for All Iowa Attack (Dickson Jensen) during the 2020 season, finishing the season with a 48-0 record, Nike Championship, and USJN Pool All Stars recognition
Named to the Dean’s List and is a student ambassador
Personal
Daughter of Shellie and Ed Affolter
Has one brothers, Trey, who plays basketball at St. Ambrose University
Dad, Ed, played basketball and the University of Illinois Chicago
Coach Bluder on Sydney Affolter…
“Sydney is a strong, versatile guard who can play the 1-4 positions. She plays the game with a grit that is fun to coach and exciting to watch. She’ll be a multi-dimensional threat.”
AJ Ediger | 6-2 | Forward
Hudsonville, Mich. (Hamilton)
The Ediger FIle
Ranked No. 47 in the 2021 signing class by ESPN
Plays at Hamilton High School under head coach Jackie Schwark
Three-time Holland Sentinel Dream Team, Grand Rapids Dream Team, all-region, and all-conference selection
Named to the all-state team as a sophomore and Best of the Best team, highlighting the best 16 players across the state from all divisions by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
As a junior, averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading Hamilton to a regional championship before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a sophomore, averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, advancing team to the state semifinals
As a freshman, averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game, helping her team to the quarterfinals in the state tournament
Helped team to two conference championships as a freshman and sophomore, while finishing third as a junior
Played for West Michigan Drive AAU team under head coach Larry Copeland, placing third in the National Blue Star Championship Tournament in 2019
Three-time all-region and all-conference selection on the volleyball team at Hamilton as well as all-state honoree as a sophomore and junior
Received Division I offers to play volleyball, but ultimately chose to continue her basketball career
Earned varsity letter as a freshman and sophomore on the track and field team, throwing discus and shot put — junior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
High Honor Roll student
Personal
Daughter of Jay and Annette Ediger
Has three older sisters, Abi, Annaka, and Aarika
Ediger has seven family members that have played college athletics, including her dad, Jay, who played football at Wheaton College, mom, Annette, who played basketball and ran track at Calvin college, and all three sisters, Abi and Annaka played basketball and ran track at Calvin College and Aarika plays softball at Hope College.
Coach Bluder on AJ Ediger…
“AJ is a tremendously versatile forward that can post or face the basket and provides a tough match-up. She runs the floor well and can attack the hoop. I’m looking forward to AJ’s ability to provide us with various options. She also has an infectious personality that makes her a fun teammate.”
Addison O’Grady | 6-4 | Forward/Center
Aurora, Colo. (Grandview)
The O’Grady File
Plays at Grandview High School under head coach Josh Ulitzky
Contributed to state championships during her freshman and junior seasons as well as a runner-up finish as a sophomore and three consecutive conference championships
Earned all-state honors as a junior and tabbed all-league honors as a freshman, sophomore, and junior
Averaged 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game as a junior
As a sophomore, averaged 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game
Averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 blocks as a freshman.
Played six years for Colorado Premier Basketball Club under head coach Keith Van Horn, earning Elite Youth Basketball League Top-Defensive Team honors.
Plays volleyball at Grandview, earning all-league honors and helping team to a seventh-place finish at the state tournament in consecutive seasons.
Earned AP Scholar with Distinction and Aurora Scholar honors, while ranking in the top-three percent of her class
Personal
Daughter of Mary and Jack O’Grady
Has two siblings, her twin, Jori, and younger brother, Jackson.
Mom, Mary, played basketball at the University of South Dakota
Plans to major in engineering
Coach Bluder on Addison O’Grady…
“Addison is a strong post player that not only embraces the contact on the block, but she has the agility and ability to play on the perimeter. I’m so excited about Addi as I think she has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential. I am looking forward to watching her grow and mature in our post system.”
“This makes back-to-back top-20 ranked recruiting classes, and that bodes very well for the future of Iowa basketball,” Bluder said. “These three women will make great Hawkeyes in every realm — athletically, academically and socially.”
Sydney Affolter | 5-11 | Guard
Chicago, Ill. (Marist)
The Affolter File
Plays at Marist High School under head coach Mary Pat Connolly
Three-time all-state, all-region, and East Suburban All-Conference first team honoree
Two-time state qualifier for Queen of the Hill 3-Point Shootout
Named to the Montini Christmas All-Tournament first team as a sophomore as well as the State Farm Holiday Classic and Grow the Game all-tournament teams as a junior
Scored her 1000th point and pulled in her 500th rebound during her junior season
Averaged 14.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game during her junior season
During her sophomore season, she
averaged 17.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game
As a freshman, she averaged 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game
Contributed to two regional championships (2018, 2020) and helped team to three consecutive second-place finishes in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship
Played for All Iowa Attack (Dickson Jensen) during the 2020 season, finishing the season with a 48-0 record, Nike Championship, and USJN Pool All Stars recognition
Named to the Dean’s List and is a student ambassador
Personal
Daughter of Shellie and Ed Affolter
Has one brothers, Trey, who plays basketball at St. Ambrose University
Dad, Ed, played basketball and the University of Illinois Chicago
Coach Bluder on Sydney Affolter…
“Sydney is a strong, versatile guard who can play the 1-4 positions. She plays the game with a grit that is fun to coach and exciting to watch. She’ll be a multi-dimensional threat.”
AJ Ediger | 6-2 | Forward
Hudsonville, Mich. (Hamilton)
The Ediger FIle
Ranked No. 47 in the 2021 signing class by ESPN
Plays at Hamilton High School under head coach Jackie Schwark
Three-time Holland Sentinel Dream Team, Grand Rapids Dream Team, all-region, and all-conference selection
Named to the all-state team as a sophomore and Best of the Best team, highlighting the best 16 players across the state from all divisions by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
As a junior, averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading Hamilton to a regional championship before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a sophomore, averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, advancing team to the state semifinals
As a freshman, averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game, helping her team to the quarterfinals in the state tournament
Helped team to two conference championships as a freshman and sophomore, while finishing third as a junior
Played for West Michigan Drive AAU team under head coach Larry Copeland, placing third in the National Blue Star Championship Tournament in 2019
Three-time all-region and all-conference selection on the volleyball team at Hamilton as well as all-state honoree as a sophomore and junior
Received Division I offers to play volleyball, but ultimately chose to continue her basketball career
Earned varsity letter as a freshman and sophomore on the track and field team, throwing discus and shot put — junior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
High Honor Roll student
Personal
Daughter of Jay and Annette Ediger
Has three older sisters, Abi, Annaka, and Aarika
Ediger has seven family members that have played college athletics, including her dad, Jay, who played football at Wheaton College, mom, Annette, who played basketball and ran track at Calvin college, and all three sisters, Abi and Annaka played basketball and ran track at Calvin College and Aarika plays softball at Hope College.
Coach Bluder on AJ Ediger…
“AJ is a tremendously versatile forward that can post or face the basket and provides a tough match-up. She runs the floor well and can attack the hoop. I’m looking forward to AJ’s ability to provide us with various options. She also has an infectious personality that makes her a fun teammate.”
Addison O’Grady | 6-4 | Forward/Center
Aurora, Colo. (Grandview)
The O’Grady File
Plays at Grandview High School under head coach Josh Ulitzky
Contributed to state championships during her freshman and junior seasons as well as a runner-up finish as a sophomore and three consecutive conference championships
Earned all-state honors as a junior and tabbed all-league honors as a freshman, sophomore, and junior
Averaged 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game as a junior
As a sophomore, averaged 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game
Averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 blocks as a freshman.
Played six years for Colorado Premier Basketball Club under head coach Keith Van Horn, earning Elite Youth Basketball League Top-Defensive Team honors.
Plays volleyball at Grandview, earning all-league honors and helping team to a seventh-place finish at the state tournament in consecutive seasons.
Earned AP Scholar with Distinction and Aurora Scholar honors, while ranking in the top-three percent of her class
Personal
Daughter of Mary and Jack O’Grady
Has two siblings, her twin, Jori, and younger brother, Jackson.
Mom, Mary, played basketball at the University of South Dakota
Plans to major in engineering
Coach Bluder on Addison O’Grady…
“Addison is a strong post player that not only embraces the contact on the block, but she has the agility and ability to play on the perimeter. I’m so excited about Addi as I think she has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential. I am looking forward to watching her grow and mature in our post system.”
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