University of Minnesota Athletics
Alexia Smith Becomes Third Member of Gophers' Signing Class
11/13/2019 6:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen has announced that Alexia Smith has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Minnesota women's basketball program for the 2020-21 season.
"Alexia has a tremendous ability to get in the paint and finish with contact," Whalen said. "Defensively, she is someone we will count on to keep us improving on that end of the floor."
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Smith has helped lead Columbus Africentric Early College to two state titles in her career. A five-star recruit according to ESPN, Smith is the 46th player overall in the class, as well as the 15th-ranked guard. She is the first five-star recruit for either the men's or women's programs at Minnesota since at least the 2011 class.
The 5'8 guard has twice been named to the Super 12 First Team and first-team all-city. As a junior, she was named second-team all-state as she averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks per game. This came after posting 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks per contest as a sophomore and 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in her freshman campaign.
In addition to four letters already earned in basketball, Smith has also earned four letters in volleyball and two more in track and field.
The early signing period for Division-I basketball runs from Nov. 13-20, 2019.
"Alexia has a tremendous ability to get in the paint and finish with contact," Whalen said. "Defensively, she is someone we will count on to keep us improving on that end of the floor."
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Smith has helped lead Columbus Africentric Early College to two state titles in her career. A five-star recruit according to ESPN, Smith is the 46th player overall in the class, as well as the 15th-ranked guard. She is the first five-star recruit for either the men's or women's programs at Minnesota since at least the 2011 class.
The 5'8 guard has twice been named to the Super 12 First Team and first-team all-city. As a junior, she was named second-team all-state as she averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks per game. This came after posting 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks per contest as a sophomore and 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in her freshman campaign.
In addition to four letters already earned in basketball, Smith has also earned four letters in volleyball and two more in track and field.
The early signing period for Division-I basketball runs from Nov. 13-20, 2019.
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