IOWA CITY, Iowa – P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen announced on Wednesday that Addie Deal, Layla Hays, and Journey Houston signed a scholarship agreement to attend the University of Iowa.

For the first time in program history, the Hawkeyes have signed three or more ESPN.com top-100 prospects in back-to-back years.

ADDIE DEAL | Twitter: @deal_addie | IG: @addie.deal
Guard – 6-foot-0 – Irvine, California (Mater Dei)
– No. 18 overall prospect and 96 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Five-star prospect
– As a junior, Deal participated in the Nike Skills Camp, World Basketball Festival (New York), Section 7 3pt Contest Champion, USA Minicamp
– She also earned Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year Watchlist, Nike TOC standout, USA Minicamp, CalStars 17u EYBL – Second Team Nike Nationals during her junior year
– No. 2 player in California (2025)
– Mother played volleyball at the University of New Orleans
– Father played basketball at Springhill College and brother plays at Grinnell College with Lisa Bluder’s son

JAN JENSEN on ADDIE DEAL
“Addie is one of the nation’s premier point guards and off guards – she can play either. She has an extremely high IQ, and she is extremely talented. One thing that I’ll always be thankful for with Addie and Journey is that they held their commitments.”

ADDIE DEAL on WHY IOWA?
I chose Iowa because of the amazing community and culture, style of play, phenomenal coaching staff, conference, and competitive level Iowa has been playing at. I’m so blessed and excited to get started and be in Iowa City! Go Hawks!

LAYLA HAYS | Twitter: @LaylaHays2 | IG: @layla_hays12
Center – 6-foot-5 – Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla)
– No. 70 overall prospect and 92 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Four-star prospect
– No. 1 player in Alaska (2025)
– Averaged 16.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game as a junior and won her first state title, 2x Alaska Player of the Year
– Father played basketball at College of the Desert
– Familiar connection that Hays has to the program is the fact that her mom’s best friend Leah Magner, who played for the Hawkeyes from 1998 to 2002

JAN JENSEN on LAYLA HAYS
“Layla is just a tremendous post player that just about everyone in the country has taken notice of, and we are so fortunate to get her. She’s versatile in how she can run, how she can score at the block, and I think she’s just scratching the tip of the iceberg. She’s also a tremendous young woman, and we are beyond pumped to have her.”

LAYLA HAYS on WHY IOWA?
The immediate connection with the team and coaches! Coach Jan believes in me not only as a player but as a person as well, and I am confident that she will help me grow into the player I want to become! Go Hawks!

Journey Houston | Twitter: @Journey_Renae| IG: @journey_renae23
Guard – 5-foot-11 – Davenport, Iowa (North)
– No. 85 overall prospect and 91 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Four-star prospect
– Recorded 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in two and a half seasons
– Was rated as highly as 19th nationally and was a five-star prospect before her season ending injury as a junior
– 2023 Nike EYBL National Runner-Up
– Mother played basketball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
– Father played football at William Penn

JAN JENSEN on JOURNEY HOUSTON
“Journey is a hard-working, high-motor kid who just makes everything she is a part of better. Unfortunately, she had a knee injury, so she missed the last part of her junior season and the AAU season, but she’s coming back stronger than ever, and we are excited for her to join our team.”

JOURNEY HOUSTON on WHY IOWA?
I chose Iowa because I loved the environment and the people who were there. It was very welcoming, and it felt like a second home. It is less than an hour from my home so my family can come watch me play and I can go home frequently.