Be prepared, there are two Smiths on the UofL WBB roster for next season.
(How will Sean Moth handle that?)
Let's meet them:
Kianna Smith was on the roster as a redshirt this past season. She's a 6-foot-guard who transferred in from Cal. Reports of her dominating her teammates in practice and wowing the coaches came frequently to me last season. One Cardinal guard stated, "No one we face in games intimidates me, because I have to go up against Kianna each day in practice"
That speaks volumes.
Kianna -- In two seasons at Cal -- scored 600 points, knocked down 91 3-pointers and dished out 244 assists, while helping the Bears to two 20-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the PAC-12 All-Freshman Team after playing in all 32 games, making 31 starts. In her sophomore year, she connected on at least one 3-pointer in 28 of 33 games, while shooting a career-best 35 percent from downtown and knocking down a career-best 55 threes. Yes, Yacine Diop will be missed, but, I see this "Smith" as a very possible and talented replacement, if she doesn't start. In high school, she was a ESPN HoopGurlz five-star prospect and No. 17 overall prospect in the nation and fifth-ranked guard in the 2017 class. You want a burger with those fries?Kianna was a McDonald’s All-American Team selection in 2017.
Ask Jeff Walz. He'll tell you that "Kianna is a leader and a winner. At six foot tall, she is a long point guard with an exceptional shooting touch. She is an extremely intelligent player because she was raised around the game. Her father John Smith is the head men's basketball coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her uncle Steve Smith has coached for several teams in the WNBA,"
You gotta love that linage. .
Ahlana Smith started her career at UCLA. In 2018-19, she saw action in 32 games, the most out of any Bruin freshman. She averaged 12.6 minutes per outing. Ahlana also tallied 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She is a ball-hawk and came away with 19 steals as a freshman. Racked up a career-high 13 points in UCLA’s season opener at Loyola Marymount (Nov. 6), shooting 6-for-10 from the field to go along with four rebounds. She can go to the boards and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds vs. Colorado in UCLA’s regular-season finale (March 3). Like the shot deflections? She had at least one block in eight games . Quick on her feet, and good at positioning, she recorded a career-high three steals vs. Cal Poly (Dec. 28). She scored seven or more points in six games and played at least 20 minutes in five games. Not a bad freshman debut. Last year, she was at Gulf Coast State College. Ahlana Smith has been named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Smith helped lead Gulf Coast State College to a 23-5 record and a trip to the NJCAA South Atlantic District Championship game.
She played in 26 games with 25 starts, while averaging 20.3 points per game, which ranked second in the NJCAA. She shot 43.9 percent from the floor and 45-148 (30.4%) from 3 point range, while pulling down 4.8 rebounds and dishing 2.0 assists per game.
Get to know "KS" and "AS", Cardinal WBB fans.
They'll be two integral features of the 2020-21 UofL Women's basketball roster. We all certainly hate seeing Jess Laemmle and Yacine Diop leave the team because of graduation, but -- these two California stars certainly lessen that departure. Kianna has had a year to familiarize herself with "Walz Ball". Ahlana looks to be a player who can adapt to any style her coaches implement.
Yes, Smith is a pretty common last name, but I think you'll find out the these two Smith are far from your common D1 student-athletes. "Keeping up with the Smith" could prove to be a very tough task for Cardinal WBB opponents in 2020-21.
There have been (8) Smiths play women's basketball at the University of Louisville in the past. How many can you come up with? You're on the honor system, here. My first guess on this came up with just three, so, don't feel bad if you can't name them all.
--sonja--
(How will Sean Moth handle that?)
Let's meet them:
Kianna Smith was on the roster as a redshirt this past season. She's a 6-foot-guard who transferred in from Cal. Reports of her dominating her teammates in practice and wowing the coaches came frequently to me last season. One Cardinal guard stated, "No one we face in games intimidates me, because I have to go up against Kianna each day in practice"
That speaks volumes.
Kianna -- In two seasons at Cal -- scored 600 points, knocked down 91 3-pointers and dished out 244 assists, while helping the Bears to two 20-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the PAC-12 All-Freshman Team after playing in all 32 games, making 31 starts. In her sophomore year, she connected on at least one 3-pointer in 28 of 33 games, while shooting a career-best 35 percent from downtown and knocking down a career-best 55 threes. Yes, Yacine Diop will be missed, but, I see this "Smith" as a very possible and talented replacement, if she doesn't start. In high school, she was a ESPN HoopGurlz five-star prospect and No. 17 overall prospect in the nation and fifth-ranked guard in the 2017 class. You want a burger with those fries?Kianna was a McDonald’s All-American Team selection in 2017.
Ask Jeff Walz. He'll tell you that "Kianna is a leader and a winner. At six foot tall, she is a long point guard with an exceptional shooting touch. She is an extremely intelligent player because she was raised around the game. Her father John Smith is the head men's basketball coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her uncle Steve Smith has coached for several teams in the WNBA,"
You gotta love that linage. .
Ahlana Smith started her career at UCLA. In 2018-19, she saw action in 32 games, the most out of any Bruin freshman. She averaged 12.6 minutes per outing. Ahlana also tallied 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She is a ball-hawk and came away with 19 steals as a freshman. Racked up a career-high 13 points in UCLA’s season opener at Loyola Marymount (Nov. 6), shooting 6-for-10 from the field to go along with four rebounds. She can go to the boards and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds vs. Colorado in UCLA’s regular-season finale (March 3). Like the shot deflections? She had at least one block in eight games . Quick on her feet, and good at positioning, she recorded a career-high three steals vs. Cal Poly (Dec. 28). She scored seven or more points in six games and played at least 20 minutes in five games. Not a bad freshman debut. Last year, she was at Gulf Coast State College. Ahlana Smith has been named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Smith helped lead Gulf Coast State College to a 23-5 record and a trip to the NJCAA South Atlantic District Championship game.
She played in 26 games with 25 starts, while averaging 20.3 points per game, which ranked second in the NJCAA. She shot 43.9 percent from the floor and 45-148 (30.4%) from 3 point range, while pulling down 4.8 rebounds and dishing 2.0 assists per game.
Get to know "KS" and "AS", Cardinal WBB fans.
They'll be two integral features of the 2020-21 UofL Women's basketball roster. We all certainly hate seeing Jess Laemmle and Yacine Diop leave the team because of graduation, but -- these two California stars certainly lessen that departure. Kianna has had a year to familiarize herself with "Walz Ball". Ahlana looks to be a player who can adapt to any style her coaches implement.
Yes, Smith is a pretty common last name, but I think you'll find out the these two Smith are far from your common D1 student-athletes. "Keeping up with the Smith" could prove to be a very tough task for Cardinal WBB opponents in 2020-21.
There have been (8) Smiths play women's basketball at the University of Louisville in the past. How many can you come up with? You're on the honor system, here. My first guess on this came up with just three, so, don't feel bad if you can't name them all.
--sonja--
