Twin guards Andrea and Andrell Smith, who committed to USF as seniors
at Lake Gibson High but failed to qualify academically, intend on
joining the Bulls after one more season at Gulf Coast Community
College, Andrea said Tuesday night.

Andrea Smith had a breakout freshman season at Gulf Coast, being named
WBCA junior college All-American honors and conference Freshman of the
Year after averaging 18.1 points per game. Smith said her strong play
has other major-conference schools calling about her, including several
teams from the ACC and SEC, but she remains committed to the Bulls and
coach Jose Fernandez.

"For now, our focus is on USF," Smith said. "We're committed."

Smith made enough of a splash at Gulf Coast that she was named to the
tryout roster for the U.S. national under-19 women's basketball team,
but she did not make the team's final cut.

Her sister Andrell suffered a season-ending knee injury just two weeks
into Gulf Coast's season, but Andrea said she's recovering well and
will be eligible for a medical redshirt, giving her three years of
eligibility at USF.

USF has had good success in recent years with junior college guards
such as Jazmine Sepulveda and rising senior Janae Stokes (who also
played at Gulf Coast). Fernandez has nine newcomers this fall, and with
five seniors next season and the Smith twins on board as part of the
2009-10 class, the Bulls have three more scholarships available for
this year's recruits.