St. John's University Athletics
McKenith And Smith Begin European Professional Careers In Spain
10/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2013
QUEENS, N.Y.- Former St. John's women's basketball standouts Nadirah McKenith and Shenneika Smith have each signed with professional teams in Spain for the 2013-14 season. McKenith will be playing for Tintos de Toro Caja Rural and Smith with Uni Girona which are both in the Spanish First League. The 2013 graduates became the St. John's women's basketball program's first-ever WNBA draft picks in April as McKenith was picked up by the Washington Mystics No. 17 overall and Smith was taken by the New York Liberty with the 25th pick.
In addition to being the first WNBA draft picks for the women's basketball program, the pair represent the seventh and eighth members to sign a professional contract overseas.
During her first season in the nation's capital, McKenith averaged 8.8 minutes and 1.0 assist per game while shooting at a 73.0 percent clip from the free throw line during the regular season. McKenith also saw action in all three of the Mystics' playoff games in their first round series against the Atlanta Dream.
The dynamic duo of McKenith and Smith were an integral part of St. John's four-straight NCAA Tournament berths, during the most successful four years in St. John's women's basketball history. The pair both earned WBCA Honorable Mention All-America accolades on, were voted to the 2013 All-BIG EAST First Team, and the 2013 All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers' Association (MBWA) First Team. McKenith was named the MBWA Player of the Year in 2013; while Smith earned the same honor in 2012.
Among many of their long lists of accomplishments, the pair has overhauled St. John's career record list with Smith finishing No. 4 in scoring with 1,727 points and McKenith No. 11 with 1,293 points. McKenith also finished her career as the all-time career assist record-holder with 605. Smith ranks in the top 10 in six other categories, while McKenith made her way into five additional categories.
