Adidas announced Thursday it has signed 16-year-old Kaleena Smith, a five-star recruit from Ontario Christian High School, to its first NIL deal for a high school women’s basketball player. Smith becomes the company’s first signing under three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker, who earlier this year was named the company’s president of women’s basketball.
Smith was dominant as a freshman at Ontario Christian, as she was named the 2023-2024 Girls Basketball MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year and also a member of the 2024 USA Women’s U17 National Team. Now the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2027 per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Smith picks up an Adidas sponsorship not only for herself, but also for Ontario Christian’s team and her AAU team as it joins the 3SSB circuit. Smith also joins a group of women’s basketball players sponsored by Adidas that include Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Aliyah Boston, Aaliyah Edwards and more.
“I embrace any opportunity to challenge myself and improve my game, and I believe that’s what has…
