NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie announced Wednesday the addition of Daijah Smith to the women's basketball program. Smith will have two years of eligibility remaining to compete for the Redbirds.
"We are so excited to add Daijah to our team," said Gillespie. "She is a dynamic guard with deep range on the perimeter. Daijah brings so much experience and will be a difference-maker for our program."
Daijah Smith | Guard | 5-11 | Gary, Ind. | Wabash Valley College
- Named a NJCAA All-American this season at Wabash Valley College, averaging 17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.9% from the floor
- Led the Lady Warriors to a 28-2 record during the 2021-22 campaign that saw the team capture its sixth consecutive regional and district championship en route to national tournament appearance
- Collected All-Conference and All-Region 24 honors this year in addition to her All-American nod
- Came to Wabash Valley by way of UIC, where she averaged 10.1 points in her nine games played during the 2020-21 campaign (redshirted the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules)
- Started her collegiate career at Indiana State, where she played in 27 games and averaged 4.7 points as a freshman in 2018-19
- Led Lighthouse Charter School in Gary, Ind. to three sectional championships while leading the state of Indiana in scoring her senior year of high school
Smith joins transfers Paige Robinson (Bethany, Ill./Drury University) and Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins (Shillington, Penn./Chipola College), along with freshmen Abbie Aalsma (Waupun, Wis./Waupun HS) and Taylor Veach (Dewitt, Iowa/Central Dewitt HS) as newcomers to the 2022-23 squad.
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