"Sign her asap": Hoops fans react to elite Class of 2027 hooper Kaleena Smith's Border League debut

The 2027 No. 1 women's basketball prospect, Kaleena Smith, was all over the court against the Vegas Bulldogs, and fans were impressed by her performance.

The 16-year-old point guard from Ontario Christian High School in California contributed 21 points, and her performance helped seal a 23-point victory for her team. Smith also contributed seven assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Hooping fans were amazed, as her blitz on the court brewed a social media storm of praises.

One fan saw her exceptional performance as nothing but routine.

"It's light work for da kid.”

“As always...Putting in the work!!!”

“She’s sooooo gooooooood! great job!"

“I could watch this kind of hoops all day. Get buckets. Give dimes. No belittling the opponent. Just eating them.”

Amid the admiration and praise, one fan called for Adidas Basketball to sign the rising talent without delay.

“Sign her asap.”

Kaleena Smith is already making history at 16

Kaleena Smith is far beyond a typical basketball player. Standing at just 5-foot-6 with a wingspan of 5-foot-4, she defies the traditional profile of a top-tier recruit, claiming the No. 1 spot for the Class of 2027 among girls. Given that no top recruit has been shorter than 5-10 in the last 20 years, as per ESPN HoopGurlz, Smith’s rise seems nothing short of extraordinary.

Besides her outstanding high school basketball run, she was also announced as a member of the 2024 USA Women’s U17 National Team in May - though she didn't play.

Also Read: "Who in the baby ju ju": Hoops fans react to 2027 recruit Kaleena Smith's hooping skills; compare her to USC's JuJu Watkins

About the author

Nishant is a Delhi-based journalist at Sportskeeda specializing in High School Sports. He graduated in Mathematical Sciences and is pursuing a Masters in Operational Research at Delhi University.

With his educational background and over four years of experience, Nishant likes to be precise with information. He is passionate about cricket, football, basketball, and chess, often writing about events and game analysis.

His favorite team is the Michigan Wolverines, and he thoroughly enjoyed their unbeaten season and championship win, especially when it culminated in Jim Harbaugh fulfilling his promise of getting a tattoo.

When he is not working or watching sports, Nishant likes to play football and write poetry. Wrapping everything in humor with relatable memes and defending his heart out on the football field is why he gets up every day.

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Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann