Future ?Hoo Bria Smith Named To Naismith High School Watch List

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Bria Smith, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Cavaliers beginning in the fall of 2011, has been named one of 10 players to the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club recently announced.

The watch list was comprised by leading basketball journalists from around the country who form the national voting academy and identify players under consideration for this award.

Smith, a native of Massapequa, N.Y., is a 5-9 guard out of Christ the King High School in Queens, N.Y. She was a first team All-City selection by The New York Post and led the Royals to the New York State Federation Class AA title during her junior season. She was the tournament’s most valuable player after netting 19 points and collecting nine rebounds in the championship game.

Smith was named a third team Parade All-American in 2010. She was a member of the Under-17 United States national team and played in the FIBA U-17 World Championships in Spain this past summer. She averaged 5.1 points per game as Team USA went unbeaten in its eight tournament games and defeated France for the gold medal.

Smith is ranked as the No. 2 point guard in the class according to the All-Star Girls Report and is ranked No. 7 overall by All-Star Girls Report, No. 7 overall by Blue Star Basketball and No. 8 overall by HoopGurlz.com.

“Bria Smith is the quintessential combo-guard and we are elated to have her as a Cavalier,” Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan said at the time of her signing. “I had the unique opportunity to watch Bria help the USA win a gold medal at the World Championships in Toulouse, France, this summer. Developed by Coach Bob Mackey, she has an outstanding mid-range game and she is an incredible defender. Bria’s athletic ability coupled with her All-American floor game will help us win championships during her career at Virginia.”

2010 Naismith Girl’s High School Player of the Year Watch List

Name, School, Hometown, College
Cierra Burdick, Butler High School, Matthews, N.C., Tennessee
Briyona Canty, Trenton Catholic Academy, Trenton, N.J., Rutgers
Temi Fagbenle, Blair Academy, Blairstown, N.J., Harvard
Krystal Forthan, Georgetown High School, Austin, Texas, LSU
Amber Henson, Sickles High School, Tampa, Fla., Duke
Betnijah Laney, Smyrna High School, Claymont, Del., Undecided
Ariel Massengale, Bolingbrook High School, Bolingbrook, Ill., Tennessee
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, Calif., Connecticut
Bria Smith, Christ the King High School, Massapequa, N.Y., Virginia
Elizabeth Williams, Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach, Va., Duke