Topeka's KiKi Smith makes transfer to Texas Tech women's basketball

KiKi Smith will be joining fellow Topekan NiJaree Canady in Lubbock, Texas. Smith announced her decision to continue playing basketball at Texas Tech on Friday, April 17. Smith has one year of college eligibility remaining.

This will be Smith’s third Division I stop after excelling at Purdue this season. She went to Purdue after a one year stint with Arkansas.

With Purdue, Smith started in 21 of 30 games this season. She averaged 26.5 minutes, scoring 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She helped the Boilermakers to a 13-17 record.

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Purdue Junior Kiki Smith (23) shoots a 3 during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, Thursday Nov. 6, 2025, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.

In January, Smith was announced as a member of the 2026 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Prior to her time with Arkansas, Smith played one season at Hutchinson Community College, where she was the NJCAA Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. Smith averaged 17.6 points and 3.2 rebounds, setting Hutchinson’s freshman scoring record and winning the national title.

In high school, Smith was a Class 6A All-State member for all four years with Topeka High. She also earned Centennial League Player of the Year honors. Smith helped the Trojans reach the state tournament in 2022 and 2023. Along with Canady, Smith and the Trojans were Class 6A runners-up in 2022.

Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's KiKi Smith announces transfer to Texas Tech women's basketball