Smith Commits to Play Basketball at NIU
Kelly Smith, a senior on the Arrowhead girl’s basketball team, recently verbally committed to Northern Illinois University. She committed to a full ride scholarship to play D1 basketball for Coach Kathy Bennett starting in the 2014 season.
Smith ended her junior year with 14.6 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game. Smith received 1st team All- Conference, 1st All Area Team for the Freeman and 2nd All Area Team for the Journal Sentinel. She also was recognized as Honorable Mention all state.
Smith said she had offers from Northern Michigan, Cleveland State, Michigan Tech, Lewis and Winona State. Towards the end of her recruiting process, Smith says she was deciding between Northern Michigan and NIU.
Smith said, “I chose to go to NIU rather than Northern Michigan because I liked the program and coaches. It is a great school with amazing academic support for athletes. The coaches say it is impossible to fail. NIU is also close to home so that way my parents can make it to games.”
Smith started talking to the coaches during the summer of 2012. She visited NIU in early August of this year where she met six of the players and all of the coaches.
Smith got offered the scholarship in mid July of this year and she verbally committed on September 8th.
Smith also said, “Another important aspect in making my decision was the fact that Northern Michigan didn’t have a strength and conditioning coach, but NIU does. Also, NIU has a family atmosphere where all sports are involved with each other. For example all the basketball players know the football players and support each other ”
Smith says she is excited about playing D1 basketball, but that she also has some nerves. She said she is most nervous about the athletic transition as well as starting college in the summer when all of her friends are staying at home. Smith has to leave for NIU the week after graduation to start summer workouts and classes.
The biggest influences in Smith’s decision, she says, were her parents, AAU coach, sister and Arrowhead Coach Witte, she said.
Smith says, “I have always wanted to play basketball in college because I love the sport and want to challenge myself. I hope to play basketball for as long as I can, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision of committing to NIU.”
