Veteran Smith adds grit, speed to Lancers lineup
University of Windsor Lancers women’s basketball head coach Chantal Vallee is taking a different route during this year’s recruiting season.
“One of the things we talked about this year is getting more college or university transfers,” Vallee said. “We had nine puppies (firstyear players) last year, so I wanted to have more older players.” Forward Yasmeen (Yazzy) Smith joined the Lancers on Friday after two seasons at Toronto’s Centennial College, where she was named a first-team OCAA East Division all-star averaging 17.9 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game. “I always knew I only wanted to play two years at college and then I wanted to switch,” the 20-yearold Smith said. “I was ready for a change and the challenge.” And when it came to picking a university, Smith, who is from Cambridge, knew exactly where she wanted to go.
“In Grade 12, I watched Windsor play Carleton,” Smith said. “From Day 1, I fell in love with Windsor. I’ve always kept up to date with the rankings and how they were doing. Why not apply and see if they want me?”
She said it was her uncle who helped make contact with the program and she was shocked by the response.
“When he told me they were interested, my heart dropped,” Smith said. “I wasn’t expecting that.” Smith is only 5-foot-8, but she’s a tenacious rebounder who Vallee feels can play at small forward or power forward.
“The one game we saw (live), she grabbed 20 rebounds and we thought, ‘Wow, that’s something we’re missing as a three-four kind of person,’ ” Vallee said. “She steals balls and she’s extremely fast. We thought, for a defensive presence, for athleticism, for stealing balls and scoring in transition and grabbing rebounds, we can use that anytime. She’s a gritty kind of player and that’s what we liked about her.”
Vallee compared Smith’s defensive play to former Lancer standout Korissa Williams.
“It’s something we were lacking in the team, that grit and that defensive presence,” Vallee said. “It’s like Korissa Williams used to steal two or three balls a game and that’s six points.
“We’ve had almost no steals that converted into layups over the last three seasons. We really struggle with that speed. We may have steals, but we don’t get to convert and she can do that. It makes a big difference.”
Smith, who has a background in soccer and volleyball, likes the challenge of taking on a bigger player.
“I love to score, too, but I’ve always gotten rebounds and I’ve been good at that,” Smith said. “I love that. It’s pretty satisfying when you look at a player and you’re like, ‘I got them on lock,’ and you prevent them from scoring. And it’s a plus when you get rebounds over everybody.” Smith, who has three years of eligibility left, knows there’s still room to grow her game. Vallée likes the fact she recognizes that. “I think she understands her role,” Vallee said. “That’s key for me. She’s not coming in thinking she’s going to start and be the star. She’s coming here to do a job. “People think, to be successful, you have to recruit all all-stars. It doesn’t work that way. You have to recruit bits and pieces and nuts and bolts that fit into what you need to make the team a star team.”