Lani Smallwood received her first Division I offer as an eighth grader.
The Albertville star and her family remember the day as one of excitement and celebration, but also one of newfound determination and encouragement.
“Working hard and having true dedication to it has truly brought me to where I am today,” Smallwood said. “You go through many phases of life; for my eighth grade, you’re receiving an offer, to receiving multiple that year, then to having a break where I didn’t receive many at all, and then just recently, this summer, really everything’s started falling into place.”
The 5-foot-8 guard took every challenge as an opportunity in her basketball career and embraced every chance she got; on Monday, she got to reap the reward her high motor and work ethic delivered,
The Albertville junior announced her commitment to play basketball at Mississippi State on Monday, two after taking a visit to Starkville.
Smallwood picked the Southeastern Conference program over offers from Murray State, Western Carolina, Samford, UAB, South Alabama, Jacksonville State, Buffalo and others.
“I didn’t see a point in dragging this out,” Smallwood told AL.com. “I’m a junior, so I still have two years when I could have waited for the next travel ball season, and who knows what could have happened? I could have gotten more offers.
“But, when you know, you know, and I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
She was a second-team all-state guard last season after averaging 20.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game with Class 3A Susan Moore; this summer, she earned an offer from Mississippi State after attending an elite camp.
Smallwood, whose primary contacts during the recruiting process were head coach Sam Purcell and assistant coach Fred Castro, was very impressed with how international the staff was in keeping close communication throughout her process.
“They made me feel like they wanted me,” she said. “A super important thing to me is not just that, but they’re an amazing basketball school, their fans are insane every single game, but they’re truly amazing people. That was a huge thing for me, because they make me feel like I am a part of the family.”
Smallwood’s mother Natasha, who took the head coaching job at Albertville this offseason after 10 seasons of leading Susan Moore, said she’s been impressed with how mature the junior has handled the process as coaches have contacted her over the last few years.
“Getting to be mom, but also her coach, has allowed me to talk to the coaches; it’s allowed me to learn a lot through this process with her that’s going to help me in my profession with other girls that I coach, and that want to get a college scholarship,” the coach said. “I’m excited about that, but it’s been so much fun watching her grow. When she finally finds the one that’s it, it’s like this is what you’ve worked for and it’s so rewarding.
“It’s been awesome to watch.”
While Lani wanted to go ahead and get her recruitment out of the way ahead of her junior year, she took plenty of different things into account as she took tours, attended camps and earned offers from schools across the southeast.
“Right when I stood back on campus, I just had so much peace, like, it just fell over me, because they were so welcoming, and they truly made me feel like I belong,” she said of Mississippi State. “Most importantly, I was a part of a true family. The main thing I was drawn to, the reason I did commit, is because of their coaches; they were so honest with me, which is what I wanted, and then they have full belief in me.”
Plenty made the guard an intriguing prospect early on in her career, with Lipscomb and Jacksonville State among those that offered her almost two years ago.
Natasha said Lani’s grit, high motor and built-in instincts helped her stand out in high school, with her AAU team and at camps she’s attended; the coach added that her maturity and knowledge of the game has even seen her offer suggestions in practice.
“She can score, and she’s been a high scorer, but the rebounding aspect of her game is what really puts her there to be top-notch,” the coach said. “I’ve always taught rebounding is effort, and obviously you’ve got to jump, too. She finds the ball, and I think that’s what’s really separated her, and her quickness and just being able to be able to play. She’s always played up with older girls all the time, and so it’s challenged her and grown her game.”
While she’s the first 2026 commit for the program, Lani added to a strong week for the Bulldogs’ recruiting. Mississippi State recently added four-star prospects Jaylah Lampley and Madison Francis for the 2025 class.
“The future looks bright right now,” she said. “They’re doing amazing, and I think they’re going to have a great year, as it is. But, with the people coming in, I think it’s going to boost Mississippi State basketball.”
With Albertville set to begin its season Nov. 8 against Decatur, the guard is set to turn her sights on improving herself and getting started on the right foot with her new program.
“If I would have waited, I would have had a year to work on things that I need for college,” Smallwood said. “Now I have two years, and I can work on what I need to for obviously, Albertville, because we have a huge year ahead, but also Mississippi State’s program and doing what they told me I need to work on, and the things that they think I can do to help their program.”
