Ahlana Smith
Number: 2
Height: 5’9
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Rankings:
- 5* Guard
- 31st ranked player class of 2018 (ESPNW Hoopgurlz)
- 34th best player (Prospects Nation)
Accolades:
- Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) First Team All-American
- NJCAA (National Jr College All-American)
Smith was one the top Juco players last year, as she averaged over 20ppg, 4rpg, and 2apg.
Coach Walz: “She will bring toughness and grit to out backcourt with her ability to create her own shot and distribute consistently.”
Breakdown: Smith is a 5’9 guard that can finish plays in traffic. Ahlana has the ball skills to beat any defender one on one and get to her spots on the floor. As well as Ahlana can finish in traffic, she has an excellent pull-up jumper that keeps defenders honest and off balance. Smith is a player that has great vision and court awareness. She’s able to not only create for herself, but get and keep her teammates involved. Ahlana is an extremely smart and athletic combo guard.”The most complete guard in junior college.” -Dan Olson, owner and director of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and director of ESPNW Hoopgurlz.
My Take: Ahlana Smith will bring a maturity to a relatively young team. On a very guard heavy team, I’m happy to have a player like Ahlana. As Coach Walz mentioned, “She plays with a chip on her shoulder.” Ahlana Smith is a smart, tough, and gritty guard that will make an immediate impact on the Louisville roster. Whether Smith starts or not, she will bring a much needed scoring punch regardless of what coach Walz decides.
