Kaylene Smikle is making an impact as freshman for Rutgers women’s basketball
For Rutgers women’s basketball, the 2022-2023 season certainly been a rebuilding effort.
Through 26 games (not including Wednesday night against Northwestern), the Scarlet Knights have posted a 10-16 record and gone 4-10 in Big Ten play. However, there have been a few bright spots, such as freshman Kaylene Smikle.
This season, Smikle is averaging a team-high 17.4 points, two steals, and 0.8 blocks a game. The Farmingdale, N.Y. native was a scoring machine in January, reaching the twenty-point mark in six games. Due to her stellar season, Smikle is receiving WER Freshman of the Year consideration.
Kaylene Smikle gives @RutgersWBB a double digit lead right before half! 💪 pic.twitter.com/JloOOQho6B
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 7, 2023
Additionally, Smikle has already started to build an impressive resume only a few months into her college career. So far this season she has earned the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week Award twice. Smikle is only the third player in program history to earn the honors joining Diamond Jackson and Arella Guirantes.
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What makes Smikle unique is her ability to affect the game in various ways. She is a threat from three-point range and can hold her own defensively. She has excelled regardless of the opponent and will be a player to watch down the stretch.
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With the 2022-2023 campaign nearly in the books, Smikle has created optimism for the future. She has already proven that she can lead the offense and will be heavily relied on next year. While her story is far from over, the first chapter has created optimism for what lies ahead.
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