After leading her school to its first-ever state title, this 6-3 post player will take her strong, versatile game to Duke next season.

Since her freshman year, Brooke Smith has started on the varsity squad at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, Calif. Over the past four seasons, her game steadily improved--and so have the team's fortunes. In fact, this year Marin Catholic won its first California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state title, topping St. Bernard of Playa del Rey, 66-48, in the championship game.

The 6-3 Smith was nominated as a High School Hero by her teammate, Nickie Warren (who's bound for Boston College herself in the fall). "She is a great scoring threat under the basket but is also an unbelievable passer and runs the floor unbelievably well," Warren wrote of Smith.

"She has been on varsity since her freshman year and has broken numerous records at her high school, including the ones for rebounding and blocked shots," Warren continued. "She is a hero to many in this county of Marin and in the Bay Area. She has also been a great inspiration to myself and to the team."

She scored a total of 1,773 points over the past four seasons. As a junior, Smith led Marin Catholic to a 31-3 record, averaging 15.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.7 steals. She followed that up with a strong senior season, averaging 15.1 points and 11.1 rebounds this year.

Smith capped her high school career by playing in the first-ever McDonald's All-America game at New York's Madison Square Garden. She was also named a first-team Parade All-America selection earlier this month.

A strong student, Smith will head to Duke University (she also considered Stanford) this fall as part of a strong incoming class that also includes Mistie Bass, Caitlin Howe and Lindsey Harding.

"Brooke is another player that fits well into our running style of play," said Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors in a school press release last November. "She is very fast and works harder than any post player that I have seen at getting up and down the floor. She reminds me of Angie Welle [of Iowa State] in that she gets up and down the floor very well, she works so hard, has a nice right and left hand hook, can shoot from 17 feet and is just a good all-around post player."

"What I really like about the [Duke] team is that they're really a fast-break team," Smith said during her recruiting visit last fall to Duke. "They get out on transition. That's one of my stronger areas, so I really think I'd fit in well with their style of play."

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

Nominate someone you know as a High School Hero. Email us at info@gballmag.com.