Shalyse Smith of Tacoma, Wash.
Shalyse Smith of Tacoma, Wash., capped off a breakout 2017 club season with a commitment to Arizona. *Photo by Glenn Nelson.
Arizona has been active on the recruiting trail since first year head coach Adia Barnes took over this spring. While the Wildcats have added several pieces to the 2017 class, their biggest score to date came this weekend when 2018 forward Shalyse Smith of Tacoma, Washington, gave her verbal commitment.
Smith, a four-star prospect who is ranked No. 44 in the ProspectsNation.com ELITE 100 in the 2018 class, gives Barnes and her staff an athletic and versatile forward prospects who can run with the wings and score inside with the posts.
So excited to announce that I verbally committed to the University Of Arizona! beyond blessed pic.twitter.com/zbrib0cKo1
— Shalyse (@Shalyse10) October 15, 2016
Shalyse Smith sets up her patented spin move at the
2016 Check Me Out Showcase in Seattle. *Photo by
Glenn Nelson.“They cared for me more than just a player,” Smith said of why Arizona was the fit for her. “They were the only school that took my transcript and came up with a plan, talked to my counselors, my academic principal and got answers to what I need to do to succeed and I respect that. They show love unconditionally.”
Smith is the first commitment for Arizona in the 2018 class. She’ll come in on the heels of a 2017 class that is four players deep currently.
Arizona is still very active in the 2017 class, especially on the international scene. The number of players Barnes and Co. add to this class could impact who joins Smith in 2018 as the staff attempts to rebuild the program to the NCAA tournament level the program enjoyed from 2003-2005.
With the addition of Smith. Arizona picks up an athletic forward with an emerging skill set. https://t.co/oLFjavQNax
— Keil Moore (@KeilMoorePSB) October 16, 2016
Smith had a breakout spring and summer with the Northside Swarm, showcasing her growth as an impact scorer and rebounder. She followed that up by competing at the Check Me Out Showcase in Seattle in August. Her focus now will be on her junior season at Bellarmine Prep and getting the Lions deeper into the playoffs.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.
