Former Lady Eagle joins Lady T-Birds basketball

After a successful high school career including the 2017-18 state championship, Ayanna Smith was given the opportunity to continue her career at the collegiate level with the Lady Saints at Seaward Community College in Liberal, Kansas. In her freshman season, Smith averaged 4.7 points on 43.5 percent shooting a game. In 15 minutes of playing time she averaged 5.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.4 turnovers a game.

"It was something that I wasn't use to at the beginning," said Smith about her first season. "But as the season went along I started to get better and understand how to play at the higher level."

One of the struggles Smith faced in college was changing the way she played in high school.

"In high school I was the biggest one," she said. "I was always the biggest one on the court, but once I got to college there were girls that were a lot bigger than me. I had to adjust and learn how to play with my speed rather than my size. The girls I played against were bigger then me."

In her first season Seaward qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament before the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. The cancellation kept Smith from experiencing a college tournament and having a true ending to her freshman year.

"We were really excited that we had the opportunity to go to the nationals," Smith said. "When we found out that it was cancelled it was really hard because we were ready and hungry to go and try to win the title.

"I didn't get to experience what it was like to play in the national tournament so if we do make it this year it will be something new to me."

Originally Smith had planned to return to Kansas and play her sophomore year with the Lady Saints, but those plans changed when her head coach Austin Mefford left the Lady Saints to become the new Lady Thunderbirds head coach. With the move he invited Smith to join him at New Mexico Junior College.

"I'm really grateful that he decided to bring me," Smith said. "Because now I get to be back and play for my hometown one more year. I'm really glad that I have this opportunity."

Smith added she is excited to show all her fans how much she has improved in the one year she played at the collegiate level to all the fans in Hobbs.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Smith knows she will be relied upon to not only be a leader on the squad, but also help mentor new players in understanding Mefford's style of play.

"I think its important for the team to know the system as soon as possible because the sooner you know it then the faster you can go and work on plays together as a team," Smith said. "If we are all on the same page then when we play on the court it will show. I'm very comfortable with it and to be a mentor because some kids learn different from others. One person might not be helping another one so this form of mentoring is really good. I think that's what we have in the sophomores that they have different styles to teach different kids."

During her time with the Lady Saints, Smith played against a couple of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference teams. She understands from those experience the WJCAC will be a much stronger conference then the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and the stronger competition will help the team and her be better prepared for nationals.

"When we were in Liberal we played against some of the teams that are in this conference and they were definitely harder teams to play. If we make it to nationals playing in this conference then that shows just how hard we are working and how hungry we are to go and win'" she said.

"I definitely think we have a higher competition in this conference. The games are going to be a lot harder. And the people that are coming in are going to want it as much as I am. So I have to work harder then them so I can stay at the place where I am and that way I can go to the higher level."

Smith added one of her goals is to play in nationals knowing it will give her a chance to have higher exposure to continue her collegiate career. She also knows playing in WJACAC will also give her plenty of exposure and hopefully catch the eye of a coach or scout from a Division I or II school.

In returning to Hobbs and playing for the Lady Thunderbirds, Smith is not only excited to play in front of her old fans, but also playing with her family in attendance. Another advantage of returning home for Smith is she gets to watch and support her younger sister, Lady Eagle Elise Turrubiates.

"I'm really excited," she said. "I was really happy that he told me he wanted to bring me down because I once said I get to play in my home town and my family gets to come. It's really special for me.

"I think its really good cause last year they did there best to go watch me. And sometimes I would feel really sad that my parents couldn't be there to see me grow as a player but now they get to go to every home game and close road games cause they are not that far away. I even get to watch my sister play her last year as a senior. I think it's a really good opportunity."

When Smith dons the white and red jersey of NMJC for the first time, she will continue to look to improve her game personally so she can help the team in achieving its goal of hanging a national championship banner.

"For me personally I want to get better as a player around the perimeter and not play so much inside," she said. "For my team of course our goal is to win national and to be able to show how coming here we feel that we are the same team with the same goals of winning national, win our conference, and go as far as we can.

"I think that will be great and a great experience. It will set the bar for future teams and create a reputation for the New Mexico Junior College Lady Thunderbirds. We will set the bar high and that is a great start."