#SigningStories: Kiki Smith

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball head coach Mike Neighbors has signed the 2024 NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Player of the Year in Kiki Smith, as announced Thursday. Smith is coming off a highly decorated freshman season in junior college, which was highlighted by winning the JUCO National Tournament with Hutchinson Community College. The Topeka, Kansas native will have three years of eligibility at Arkansas and is the sixth signee ahead of the 2024-25 season, fourth this offseason.

Kiki Smith | G | 5-7 | Topeka, Kan. | Hutchinson CC/Topeka HS

#SigningStories, as told by Arkansas women’s basketball head coach Mike Neighbors

“I wish Kiki Smith was coming out of Hutch this year. She’s exactly what we need… A maker, NOT a shooter!”

That was my exact text to an assistant as I was returning from the National Junior College Tournament in Casper, Wyoming.

All of the buzz around the event was that Kiki would return to Hutch for her sophomore year, but after completing their 37-0 undefeated season, the buzz changed.

After an amazing campus visit with her family, it was obvious our initial thoughts were accurate.

All levels of basketball look for “180” shooters. Shooters who have a combined total of 180 when you add their FG%, 3PFG% and FT%.

Over the course of 37 games against the best possible competition, with the best plans to stop her, Kiki shot 179.9.

I’m a round-up type. I had to be because I made a lot of 79.5s in school!

But I know for certain we’d signed a good one when Kiki didn’t want to round-up. She wants to shoot 180 next year.

Welcome home, Kiki!