Charmin Smith Gets Her First Recruit, Leilani McIntosh Joins the Bears

Huge news this morning from the WBB program when Leilani McIntosh announced that she will join the Cal program. She is the first recruit of the Charmin Smith era, joining three freshmen recruited during Lindsay Gottlieb’s tenure. That includes West Coast Premier teammate Cailyn Crocker.

She was originally committed to Pepperdine but made a change when they had a late head coaching change. I don’t think Cal fans will have any sympathy for their fanbase after losing Lauren Fields to Oklahoma State after Gottlieb’s departure. (And may still lose McKenzie Forbes)

McIntosh hails from Phoenix, Arizona (the same city that brought us Kristine Anigwe) where she scored more than 1,000 points at Xavier College Preparatory. In her senior season she earned Player of the Year honors in her region.

From Coach Smith:

“Leilani is a dynamic guard who always caught my eye on the recruiting circuit. She is a great facilitator who can also create offense for herself, and has a high basketball IQ. Leilani is the perfect addition to this already talented 2019 class, and I couldn’t be any more thrilled to have such a high-character young lady as my first recruit.”

With the departures of Asha Thomas and Kianna Smith, one should not be surprised to see McIntosh get immediate playing time at the point guard position.