By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior guard Kiki Smith signed to play basketball at the University of Evansville on Thursday evening, fulfilling her dream of becoming a Division 1 athlete while playing the sport she loves the most.
Topeka High baketball star Kiki Smith addresses those in attendance for Thursday's letter of intent signing with Evansville. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Topeka High star Kiki Smith signs her NCAA Division I letter of intent with Evansville Thursday at Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
“Honestly, I’m proud of myself,” Smith said. “There was a time period where I didn’t know if I wanted to go on with basketball after an injury I had. So being here today, being able to sign and say that I’ve finally made it is a really good feeling.”
Smith leaves her mark as a star on the Topeka High program after an overwhelmingly successful career in the Dungeon. Smith said the support she’s received from the community has helped her tremendously throughout the years.
In addition, she was glad to see a big group of people attend her signing ceremony.
“Just endless support,” Smith said. “I’ve had people bring me flowers up to the school. People are congratulating me. Just random people that I don’t even know, knew me. There’s just a lot of support.”
Smith is a four-time Class 6A All-State selection, Shawnee County player of the year, Centennial League player of the year, a four-time first-team Centennial League pick, and hit the 1,000-point mark in her career.
Smith’s four years on the squad were an experience of a lifetime that she will never forget.
“It’s been fun from the beginning all the way up to the end,” Smith said. “I got my four years here, and we made some major statements. We made a lot of history here. So just being able to say how much I’ve impacted (the program) from my freshman year to my senior year just really means a lot to me. A lot of memories I’ll never forget.
“Just all of the advice that I’ve been given over the years on and off the court, with a lot of it coming from the teachers who knew who I was as a person and then also just the coaches, just all of the advice that I was given, I’m definitely going to use it when I go on to the next level.”
Smith’s decision to go to the University of Evansville felt like home from when she took her first steps on campus. Smith is satisfied with her decision to join the Aces for her collegiate career.
“Being there on my visit, it just felt like home,” Smith said. “When I went there, I just met the coaches, the players, and just everything about it just felt right.”
As a senior, Smith averaged a city-high 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals while drilling 50 3-pointers. With Smith’s production, Topeka High made the Class 6A state tournament three times, including a state runner-up finish.
“It means a lot to me knowing when I was younger, knowing the things I wanted to be growing up in high school and now in college,” Smith said. “It means a lot actually reaching those goals. I remember when I was younger, and I always wanted to get a thousand points in high school and then actually reaching that point. Then, win and go to state and actually getting to go to state. The small things that you dream of as a kid and actually being able to accomplish it makes me feel proud of myself.''
Evansville is in the Missouri Valley Conference. The women's basketball team finished with an overall record of 11-19 and a conference record of 6-14 in the 2022-2023 season.
