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South Elgin's Smith to Loyola

The recruiting trail has come to an end for one of the Fox Valley's most prodigious scorers in girls basketball history.

Becca Smith, South Elgin's 5-foot-9 senior guard, has verbally committed to play her college basketball at Loyola University in Chicago.

“Really, getting to know coach (Eric) Simpson and the coaching staff put Loyola over the top,” said Smith Tuesday. “They're the nicest guys and the best coaches I've met through this journey.”

Smith is a three-time Daily Herald All-Area choice who averaged 19.8 points per game, as well as 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4 steals in a junior season that saw her miss several games with a knee injury.

She enters her senior season with 1,422 career points. She had games of 41 and 37 points last season.

But for as well as she's played in her high school career thus far, Smith wants more, and that's why she chose Loyola.

“The coaches are really dedicated to helping me become the best I can be,” she said. “The campus is great and it's going to be a big change but I'm looking forward to it.”

It also ends a trail that saw Smith, who will study kiniesology, seriously consider offers from Valparaiso, Duquesne, Indiana and Bucknell. And it leaves Smith looking forward to now being able to just play basketball her senior year.

“Loyola's the place for me,” said Smith, who had a successful summer with the Midwest Elite AAU team. “I felt at home there and can see myself there the next four years.

“This is a big weight off my shoulders. Hopefully I'll have a great senior year and we'll go deeper in the playoffs.”

South Elgin coach Tim Prendergast is also glad to see the decision made.

“It's a huge process and it's the first time going through it for me,” he said. “It's a complicated process and it was challenging for her. It's hard when all these coaches are sitting behind your bench every night.

“But it's been a fun thing to go through. I think it's the perfect school for Becca. I think she can go there and play right away. I'm glad it's over and I'm sure she's glad it's over. We're looking forward to the season.”

Loyola is 27-34 in Simpson's two seasons on the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Ramblers, who play in the Horizon League, were 12-19 last season.

  South Elgin senior guard Becca Smith has committed to Loyola University. RICK WEST/rwest@dailyherald.com