Birkenhead College and Harbour Basketball forward Rashaan Smith has signed a letter of intent to attend Gillette Community College from August 2020.

Gillette College, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) member is located in Wyoming and has a rich history of providing basketball scholarships for Australasian  athletes.

The current roster includes two Australian players and 2019 Tall Ferns Zoe Richards and Mary Goulding are both recent graduates from Gillette.

Rashaan, having spoken to head coach Liz Lewis and assistant coach Janie Rayback, knew immediately that Gillette was the college she wanted to attend.

“The way that they spoke to me and reassured me that they would take care of me over there just made it feel right. I knew it was the school for me.”

It will be a few months before Rashaan heads to Wyoming to link up with the Pronghorns so intends to make good use of her time between now and then.

“I’m going to work as a teacher aid at Birkdale Intermediate School and help out with the PE programme to save up for when I go to America.”

On the playing front there is the small matter of an U19 National title to defend.

“I’ll continue to play for the Harbour women’s team and the U19’s. I’ll be heading off to nationals again next year for a last hit out with the girls. A lot of players on the team have scholarships so it will be good to have one last hurrah before we all head off.”

In addition Rashaan is keen to continue giving back to the game that has provided her with so many opportunities at school, representative and national level. 

“I’m going to coach a Birkdale College team and a Birkdale Intermediate team.”

Heading to the States on a basketball scholarship is not a recent decision, it has been on Rashaan’s mind for several years.

“It has been a goal of mine ever since I started playing. Doe Williams, rest his soul, came up to me after one of my intermediate games and told me that I had the potential to go to the States - I was only about 12 years-old at the time.

“Over the years it’s been hard sometimes thinking I can go and then maybe not. But the people around me have always thought that I could go and now we are finally here.

“My mum (Sandra), everyone at Birkenhead College and Harbour Basketball, friends and family have all been really supportive. My mum and John have always believed in me.

“It feels good to have had all that support around me.”

All at Harbour Basketball wish Rashaan every success on the next stage of her basketball and academic journey.