Nov. 10, 1999

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. -- Former Rantoul High School standout Yolanda Smith made it official Wednesday. The 5-10 guard sent her letter of intent to play basketball for Head Coach Theresa Grentz and the University of Illinois.

Smith will transfer to Illinois from John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill., following this season. She is the final puzzle to the most anticipated class in Illinois basketball history. Joining Smith in this prestigious class are Anne O'Neil, a 5-11 All-America point guard from Cedar Rapids, Iowa., Brenda Blackburn, a 6-6 center from Ardmore Okla.., and Aminata Yanni, a 6-1 senior forward from Machesney Park, Ill.

Smith grew up in Champaign County and had an up-close view of the emergence of Illinois as a national power. Smith was named the Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year in 1998 after averaging 23.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for the Eagles, who finished 27-3. Smith is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Rantoul High School with 1,596 points and 774 boards.

Smith gives Illinois five members of the News-Gazette All-State First Team on the roster, Allison Curtin, Kristi Faulkner, Shavonna Hunter, and Dawn Vana are the other four. Smith holds Rantoul's top three scoring seasons in school history. She averaged 17.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in 1997 and 17.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in '96. She averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game in 1998-99 at Logan College and was runner-up to her conference's "Newcomer of the Year" award in addition to being named All-Region.

"We've known about Yolanda for the past couple of years and have followed her progress," Grentz said. "I have been most impressed with her rebounding skills and her desire to improve. I think she will be a tremendous fit for our up-tempo style game and, being a local product, will be a natural for her family, friends, and new fans."

"With a year of college experience under her belt, Yolanda is making tremendous strides," Assistant Coach Renee Reed said "She is a relentless rebounder and a scrappy defender. Yolanda's also very good in transition, which will be a key to our style of play during the next few years. We're all excited that she can continue her college career close to home with the Illini."

It's exciting to have Yolanda Smith join our program especially after watching her play in high school," added Associated Head Coach LaVonda Wagner. "She does all the little things that sometimes do not show up on the stat sheet but are imperative to winning. Whether it's defending the opponents' best player, diving on a loose ball or hitting the game winning shot - Yolanda Smith knows how to win."

The Smith File:

• Runner-Up to Conference Newcomer of the Year at Logan College last season
• All-Region selection in 1998-99
• Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year in 1997-99
• Rantoul's All-Time Leading Scorer
• Along with four members of current Illinois team, named First Team All-State by the News-Gazette