Adidas has signed Kaleena Smith as its first-ever high school girl’s basketball partner under a name, image, and likeness, or NIL, contract.
The sophomore from Ontario, California, is only 16 years old and the highest-rated recruit in the class of 2027. The 5-foot-6 point guard averaged 34.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.2 steals per game, earning her the title of MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.
As per NBC News, she has already been offered admission to almost 20 universities, including Louisiana State University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Southern California, the University of Louisville, the University of Connecticut, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Smith is the first player that Candace Parker has signed since taking over as head of Adidas women’s basketball in May.
Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and seven-time WNBA All-Star, said, “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.”
Smith remarked, “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.”
Smith will represent the brand on the court throughout all of her games with Ontario Christian High School, as well as her AAU team, according to the company.
She is one of Adidas’ youngest athletes. In March, the company recruited soccer player Chloe Ricketts, 15, as its youngest athlete to date.
