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Women’s Basketball Inks Three Recruits from Indiana for 2023-24 Season
November 09, 2022 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State women's basketball 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent during the early signing period, which opened Nov. 9.
Ashlynn Brooke (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer High School) along with identical twins Hailey Smith (Fishers, Ind./Fishers High School) and Olivia Smith (Fishers, Ind./Fishers High School) are set to join the Cardinals for the 2023-24 campaign.
"We landed the exact three players in this State that we thought were the best fits in our system," Sallee said. "They are winners, they are competitors, and they want everything that comes with the expectations of playing in the Ball State WBB program. I'm excited to keep these three very special young ladies home. As always, my staff did an excellent job with making sure we landed the three we wanted!"
Brooke led the state in scoring as a junior averaging 25.9 points per game while making 98 3-pointers. She helped the Lady Panthers to a 21-5 overall record and went undefeated in HNAC (Hoosier North Athletic Conference) for the first time in program history. As a freshman, Brooke helped Pioneer high school finish as the Class A state runner-up and then won a state title her sophomore year after hitting the game-winning shot with seven seconds remaining.
The talented guard was named an Indiana Junior All-Star along with being tabbed HNAC Most Valuable Girls Basketball Player and the Pharos-Tribune's 2022 Loganland Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Entering her senior season, Brooke is shooting 45 percent from the field, 41 percent from behind the arc and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Brady Sallee on Ashlynn Brooke…
"We believe Ashlynn is the best pure scorer in the State! She is a perfect fit for our system and has a ton of skill that will translate quickly to the college game. Her ability to stretch defenses with the 3-ball coupled with high level court vision makes her an exciting addition to the Ball State WBB family!"
Hailey Smith, a hard-nosed guard, accounted for over 91% of her made field goals inside the arc last season for Fishers High School with the majority of those coming in the paint. As a junior, she averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the sectional runner-up Tigers and finished 72-for-100 at the free throw line.
Hailey is an Indiana Junior All-Star selection and was recently named to the IndyStar's Preseason Super Team which is comprised of Central Indiana's best players.
Brady Sallee on Hailey Smith…
"Hailey Smith is special. She can take over a game in a lot of different ways and is flat out relentless! We talk a lot in recruiting about finding players that have the "dawg in 'em" and she personifies that phrase. Nobody will compete or play harder than Hailey! Cardinal Nation has a lot to be excited about with this young lady!"
Olivia Smith has played on varsity for Fishers High School all four years and has competed in 72 games for the Tigers. She averaged 9.4 points per game as a junior, 5.1 rebounds while dishing out on average 3.0 assists.
Olivia helped the Tigers to the 2021-22 Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championship after scoring 10 points in a victory over Avon. She was also named to the First Team HCC All-Conference Team along with her twin sister Hailey.
Brady Sallee on Olivia Smith…
"Olivia is a big-time competitor! She loves playing, and the tougher the game, the tougher she plays. Olivia will bring an intensity and passion to the floor that our fans will love! She is the type of player that you can put on the other team's best player and she will lock them down. We are excited to bring Olivia's level of toughness to our program!'
Brooke along with the Smith twins will join fellow Hoosiers on Ball State's current roster — Ally Becki (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg), Alex Richard (Avon, Ind./Avon) and Madelyn Bischoff (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli).
Ashlynn Brooke (Royal Center, Ind./Pioneer High School) along with identical twins Hailey Smith (Fishers, Ind./Fishers High School) and Olivia Smith (Fishers, Ind./Fishers High School) are set to join the Cardinals for the 2023-24 campaign.
"We landed the exact three players in this State that we thought were the best fits in our system," Sallee said. "They are winners, they are competitors, and they want everything that comes with the expectations of playing in the Ball State WBB program. I'm excited to keep these three very special young ladies home. As always, my staff did an excellent job with making sure we landed the three we wanted!"
Brooke led the state in scoring as a junior averaging 25.9 points per game while making 98 3-pointers. She helped the Lady Panthers to a 21-5 overall record and went undefeated in HNAC (Hoosier North Athletic Conference) for the first time in program history. As a freshman, Brooke helped Pioneer high school finish as the Class A state runner-up and then won a state title her sophomore year after hitting the game-winning shot with seven seconds remaining.
The talented guard was named an Indiana Junior All-Star along with being tabbed HNAC Most Valuable Girls Basketball Player and the Pharos-Tribune's 2022 Loganland Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Entering her senior season, Brooke is shooting 45 percent from the field, 41 percent from behind the arc and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Brady Sallee on Ashlynn Brooke…
"We believe Ashlynn is the best pure scorer in the State! She is a perfect fit for our system and has a ton of skill that will translate quickly to the college game. Her ability to stretch defenses with the 3-ball coupled with high level court vision makes her an exciting addition to the Ball State WBB family!"
Hailey Smith, a hard-nosed guard, accounted for over 91% of her made field goals inside the arc last season for Fishers High School with the majority of those coming in the paint. As a junior, she averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the sectional runner-up Tigers and finished 72-for-100 at the free throw line.
Hailey is an Indiana Junior All-Star selection and was recently named to the IndyStar's Preseason Super Team which is comprised of Central Indiana's best players.
Brady Sallee on Hailey Smith…
"Hailey Smith is special. She can take over a game in a lot of different ways and is flat out relentless! We talk a lot in recruiting about finding players that have the "dawg in 'em" and she personifies that phrase. Nobody will compete or play harder than Hailey! Cardinal Nation has a lot to be excited about with this young lady!"
Olivia Smith has played on varsity for Fishers High School all four years and has competed in 72 games for the Tigers. She averaged 9.4 points per game as a junior, 5.1 rebounds while dishing out on average 3.0 assists.
Olivia helped the Tigers to the 2021-22 Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championship after scoring 10 points in a victory over Avon. She was also named to the First Team HCC All-Conference Team along with her twin sister Hailey.
Brady Sallee on Olivia Smith…
"Olivia is a big-time competitor! She loves playing, and the tougher the game, the tougher she plays. Olivia will bring an intensity and passion to the floor that our fans will love! She is the type of player that you can put on the other team's best player and she will lock them down. We are excited to bring Olivia's level of toughness to our program!'
Brooke along with the Smith twins will join fellow Hoosiers on Ball State's current roster — Ally Becki (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg), Alex Richard (Avon, Ind./Avon) and Madelyn Bischoff (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
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