“It’s hard to describe the impact that S’Mya is going to have on our program in every facet,” he said. She tore her left ACL during her sophomore year but expects to be back playing with the Vikings sometime this December.Īfter receiving Nichols’ letter of intent on Wednesday, Schneider said KU identified Nichols’ as an up-an-coming star as early as seventh grade. Nichols is currently rehabbing an ACL tear in her right knee. The newest KU commitment also helped USA Basketball’s U18 national team win gold at the 2022 FIBA Americas Championships. Karyla played for the Phenom program during her prep days. She played AAU basketball for the Missouri Phenom program that current KU assistant coach Terry Nooner started, and fellow-KU assistant Karyla Middlebrook’s father, Reggie, currently is the club’s director. Nichols’ connection to Kansas goes beyond the college’s campus being close to home. So that plays a factor, but either way I was so proud of them and happy for them.” “It didn’t surprise me, though, because I know the coaching staff they have right now and they’re amazing.

“When I saw that, I was absolutely excited,” she told the Journal-World. That run, along with her connections to the program, made her even more excited about the direction in which the Jayhawks are headed. Nichols said she watched closely last season as Schneider and the Jayhawks made the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and reached the second round. “And it just got more exciting and made me feel even more like they really wanted me.”Īround the time of her official visit, former KU basketball player Christian Braun, who also played high school ball in the Kansas City area, sent out a tweet asking for KU fans to show her some love because KU needs to keep the best players in KC close to home. “They just never stopped recruiting me,” Nichols told the Journal-World in September. Her official visit came in late September, and, before she arrived, she told the Journal-World that KU making her a priority throughout her career played a big role in her decision. The versatile wing who can play and guard multiple positions has made several unofficial visits to KU’s campus throughout her high school career. On top of her physical gifts, she is a fierce competitor, a brilliant student and one of the very best leaders and an extremely good person.” She has a crazy-good handle, she is strong and physical and plays intense defense. “S’Mya is one of the best players in the country,” said Lawrence High girls coach Jeff Dickson, whose teams have faced Nichols during the past few seasons.

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