We have reached the top 5 in our countdown of Outside the Huddle’s Top 50 girls basketball player countdown. This is No. 3 in our annual preseason crowning of the top 5 players in northeast Indiana that we call the ‘First Five;’ our highest individual preseason honor.
The ‘First Five’ was started in 2018, following in the 35-plus year tradition of naming the top five area basketball players, started by a now defunct prep sports department in Fort Wayne. It is our honor to pick up and carry on that tradition with the ‘First Five,’ including our third group of honorees coming this season at the top of our Top 50 countdown.
No. 3 – Olivia Smith, South Side
When you have a player like Olivia Smith, you have to be drawn to her ability to just be a consistent force that is always reliable. She can do that so well, it is a big part of what is keeping South Side so relevant with their turnover of players lost to graduation. Even better, Smith is not one to be content with just consistency. She gets better all of the time and her number jump between seasons one and two is impressive. Averaging 12 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game over her two season Archer career, Smith on the perimeter is a dangerous matchup for anyone. She has the speed to blow by defenders and the intelligence to move things around on the court like chess pieces.
But what could someone have possibly forgotten about Smith’s game? Well, she came onto the high school level as one of the most respected sharpshooters in her class across the Midwest. The graduation of Jaci Jones and the addition of CC Calloway at South Side means that Smith will likely see some time off ball on the perimeter and she can flat knock it down; she hit 38 threes in 2019-20 at a 31 percent success rate. Smith is a very hard worker, who is constantly in the gym improving her craft.
COACH’S QUOTE ON OLIVIA SMITH
“Olivia Smith is a spunky fireball on the court. She has an engine won’t quit. We look for her to a general on the court and will inspire her teammates to perform with high energy.” – South Side coach Juanita Goodwell
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OTH First Five – No. 4 – Bailey Kelham, Garrett
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