Who is Kaleena Smith? Meet the No. 1-ranked female hooper of the 2027 class 

By Insiya Johar

Modified Dec 17, 2024 21:18 GMT

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Five-star recruit Kaleena Smith is ranked as the No. 1 high school girls basketball prospect nationally in the 2027 class. The 5-foot-5 hooper hails from Perris, California, and plays point guard for Ontario (California) Christian School.

In her freshman year, she averaged 34.9 points, 6.5 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.5 rebounds across 33 games and was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.

Currently in her sophomore year, Smith has played 11 games, averaging 22.3 ppg, 8.4 apg, 4.3 spg and 2.5 rpg. On Saturday, Smith scored 21 points in an 80-40 win over Bishop Montgomery.

In October, Kaleena Smith clinched the top spot in 247Sports' list of the top 25 players in the Class of 2027.

She has already received offers from nearly 20 universities, including USC, Louisville and South Carolina.

Kaleena Smith: First high school WBB player to team with Adidas

Last month, Kaleena Smith became the first high school girls basketball player to ink the deal with the athletic apparel brand Adidas. With the sponsorship, she has joined the likes of Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Cooper and Aliyah Boston.

"I embrace any opportunity to challenge myself and improve my game, and I believe that's what has fostered the confidence and skill I have on the court," Smith said in a report by CBS Sports.

"I'm blessed to be part of something Candace is creating and to get to do that with a brand like Adidas who is taking a different approach to play a role to help grow the game for players like me. Plus, I'm really excited to get to rock the (James) Harden sneakers this season."

The deal garnered significant attention as it was the first agreement signed under the presidency of three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker.

"Signing Kaleena as our first high school NIL women’s basketball athlete is a pivotal moment for us as we lead in championing women’s sports and building greater access to and representation in the game that we all love," Parker said in a statement.

Adidas has been partnering with multiple athletes this season. In August, it signed deals with six Texas Tech athletes in collaboration with Patrick Mahomes, including Micah Hudson, Jasmine Shavers and Sam Courtwright.