Name: Rosa Smith
Height: 5’6”
Position: Point Guard
High School: Lake Washington High School, Class of 2022
AAU Club: EBC Elite
GPA: 4.0
Offers: Alaska Anchorage, Dartmouth, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, Seattle, Seattle Pacific and William & Mary.
Status: COMMITTED - University of Idaho (9/7/21)
Favorite hobbies outside of basketball: Playing with her dog, spending time with friends and family, wake surfing, running, working out.
Expectations heading into your junior season: "It looks like we will have a really short high school season so I’m excited to make the most of that time in the gym with my teammates. We have high expectations after what we accomplished in the state tournament last season. I’m looking forward to continuing to embrace my leadership role and improving off of what we did last year."
Rosa Smith is a 5'6" Point Guard from Kirkland, Washington. She's currently a junior at Lake Washington High School and runs with EBC Elite on the AAU circuit. Rosa also holds two offers from Eastern Washington and Seattle Pacific University. I first discovered Rosa from a mutual source that was talking very highly of her. She's an extremely gritty guard and I haven't met someone that plays with such tenacity every possession. In her sophomore season, Rosa averaged 11.5 points, 4.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game guiding the Lady Kangaroos to a state championship appearance. Rosa is playing a small 8-game school basketball season for Lake Washington starting 4/13 and will proceed to join her EBC Family right after. Let's get to know more about the Lake Washington floor general!
BREAKDOWN:
STRENGTHS
College Ready Prospect, I believe that she can play at any level.
Elite Court Vision
Elite Floor General
Finishes strong at the rim every time.
Handles contact very well, when closely guarded, or attacking the rim.
Has a great feel for the game, plays with a lot of heart and very smooth.
Has a lot of shake in her game, one of the smoothest crossovers that I've seen.
Knockdown Shooter
Mid Range Specialist, stops and pulls up on a dime when over-played.
Overall one of the toughest guards mentally and physically that I've covered.
Pick and Roll Specialist
Strong Ball Handler
Tenacious Defender, averaged 3 SPG during her sophomore campaign.
Uses a variety of moves to score on the offensive end.
So there are a lot of bullet points up above I tend to get carried away when talking about basketball. I can be a bit extreme sometimes, but that is exactly how I would describe Rosa Smith's game. Smith is an all around player who's so fundamentally sounded, I feel she doesn't need a coach, I'm kidding. Smith does a great job of making the right reads which then turns into action. Smith is a very high IQ point with strong ball handling skills and tenacious defense. She possesses a strong ability of taking her defender off the dribble and either pulling up no matter the range, or taking it strong to the rack. Smith is also a fierce shooter as her feet are always set and she's known for messing up a net every time her shot goes in. Ay yi yi I feel bad for those referees. Two takeaways on Smith's game that I love the most is probably her defensive ability and her confidence on the floor. Smith isn't afraid of contact as she's always in the right spot to get a steal on the ball which turns into a quick 2 points in transition. Also, don't sleep on her in the paint as she loves to sneak up and chase down shots from behind.
THINGS TO IMPROVE ON
Getting Stronger
Staying Aggressive throughout the whole game.
Working on a low post game to separate herself.
Rosa Smith is a very solid basketball prospect, but every player can build on their game. The things Smith can work on is getting stronger, staying aggressive on the offensive end and adding a low post game. From conversations over time Smith has said to me that she needs to work on getting stronger and being more aggressive to prepare her for the next level. Already being 5'6" and playing with heart, once Smith adds the general strength she can be a monster. Smith has also said that she's been working on her low post game to become more versatile on the court.
Smith is a dedicated player who wants to be as valuable as she can whenever she laces up. Smith is a very confident basketball player who works hard, she makes everybody around her better on and off the court, and gives back to her community by training the youth in her hometown throughout the summer. You can't ask for nothing more from a hooper as she leads by example. I asked Rose several questions so you guys can get to know her better. The Lake Washington product had some real great answers!
ROSA SMITH Q&A
When did you start playing basketball?
"I started playing basketball in first grade. I grew up playing a lot of different sports like soccer, volleyball, track, and softball, but I always loved basketball and how fast-paced and competitive it was. I started playing club at EBC in 6th grade and really began training and building my game."
Describe your game.
"I’ve always had a team-first playing style. I’m a scoring point guard but I’m versatile in that I’m willing to do whatever my team needs. Whether that’s defending and applying ball pressure, slowing down and facilitating in the half-court, or pushing the ball in transition. I’ve always watched a lot of basketball at all levels so I think I am a high IQ player and I pride myself on my competitive drive. One of my biggest strengths is my speed. I have a quick first step and use that in combination with my ball-handling to penetrate often."
How has your college recruitment been?
"My recruitment has been very exciting. I was honored to receive an offer from Eastern Washington last summer and recently received another from Seattle Pacific University. I’m extremely grateful to both of those coaching staffs for believing in me. Of course, it’s been difficult with COVID and not being able to take visits, but I have enjoyed getting to know many different coaches and programs. In conferences like the Big Sky, Big West, Mountain West, WCC, WAC, and America East. I’m really looking forward to continuing to build relationships and finding the right school."
How have you been keeping yourself busy during the pandemic?
"I’ve definitely stayed busy during the pandemic! I’m lucky to have access to a gym near my house so I was training, playing in open runs, and lifting weights as often as possible during the summer. Washington hasn’t started opening up until recently, so I have been traveling to other states like Arizona and Idaho to play tournaments with my EBC team since last fall. For a while, it seemed like our high school season in Washington was uncertain and we were only able to do outdoor conditioning, but now we’re getting ready for a condensed 8 game season!"
What is your role on Lake Washington’s basketball team?
"I am a co-captain of the team. I’m the primary ball handler and a leading scorer. I’m one of the more experienced basketball players on the team so I try to be vocal leader. Overall, I try to bring consistent competitive energy so that we continue to get better every day."
I know this has been for awhile now, but how was your sophomore season?
"My sophomore season was great! We won our conference championship for the second year in a row and made a run in the state tournament, winning 2 big upsets to get to the state championship. In the end, we came up short of achieving our ultimate goal of winning state. It definitely stings but I’m extremely proud of the progress our program has made in the last couple years and can’t wait to get another shot at a state championship in my senior season."
What are your plans for the Spring/Summer?
"This spring and summer I will be playing with EBC Elite. We will be playing in tournaments and I will continue to train there, in addition to lifting weights."
You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?
"One habit that I think has really helped me become a better player is watching basketball. I’ve grown up watching it and love to watch all levels. I’m always sharing clips or different skills with my coach, Allen Tate. I really think that helps my basketball IQ, it helps me add new skills to my bag, and it’s just fun to watch!"
Which athlete do you look up to the most?
"The athlete that I’ve looked up to the most is definitely Kobe Bryant. I’ve grown up a Lakers fan and have always aspired to his work-ethic, intensity, and competitive mindset. A close second though would be Sabrina Ionescu. I love her poise, leadership, and all that she has done for the women’s game."
Who do you look up to as role models?
"Two people that I really look up to are my club coaches, Allen Tate and Nick Crossan. Not only are they incredible basketball coaches that have taught me just about everything I know on the court, but they are incredible people. I love the way they coach, how they build a family atmosphere at EBC, and they are always willing to make time for me."
What are your expectations for your junior season?
"We are having a very short 8 game, 5 week season playing against teams in our school district so I’m excited to make the most of that time in the gym with my teammates. We have high expectations after what we accomplished in the state tournament last season so I’m looking forward to continuing to embrace my leadership role and build off what we did last year."
Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people?
"Trust the process! This is something I have to remind myself at times, but everyone’s journey is different so enjoy your own process, embrace it, put in the work, and results will come. Thank you for having me!"
Rosa Smith, Lake Washington Class of 2022
2019-2020 Lake Washington Lady Kangaroos Girls Basketball team
EBC Elite HS Girls: Rosa Smith 2020 Highlights
Rosa Smith 2019-2020 State Championship game highlights against Garfield High School.
(March 7, 2020)
OTHER LINKS ON ROSA SMITH
Prep Hoops Profile https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/player/rosa-smith/
Prospect Nation Profile https://prospectsnation.com/player/rosa-smith
Sports Recruiters Profile https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/rosa_smith
Twitter:
High School Coach Information
Jeff Wilson - Email
AAU Coach Information
Jeff Crossan
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