North Hills (PA) High School standout Alex Smith has inked a National Letter of Intent with Cardinals basketball, head coach Chris Richardson announced today.  

Smith, a 6'3" guard, comes to Wheeling after an putting together an exceptional career at one of the WPIAL's top programs. As a four-year starter for Coach Buzz Gabos, Smith finished his career with 1,183 points. He saved his best for his senior season, averaging 17 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals per game.  

"Alex is a terrific addition for our program," said Richardson. "He was one of the top players in Western Pennsylvania over the past four years, and most importantly, led his team to a high level of success. He knows what it takes to win at a high level, and we're excited to welcome him to the Cardinal family." 

With Smith leading the way, North Hills finished the 2021-22 regular season undefeated and made it to the quarterfinals of the PIAA 6A playoffs. The Indians finished the year with an impressive overall record of 26-2. For his efforts, Smith was honored as a Big 56 first team all-section, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL first team All-6A. Richardson sees Smith making an impact in a number of ways over the course of his college career.  

"He's a versatile guard, who can score but also does a great job of making plays for his teammates," said Richardson. "He's got a great feel for the game. He knows when he needs to get everyone involved, and when he needs to go score. He can score from different places on the court. His basketball IQ really stood out. My favorite thing about Alex is his demeanor – he just doesn't get rattled. That's an important trait in winning." 

Smith is the son of Bryan Smith and Jackie McKinney. His brother, Nick, was a four-year standout at Division II power Nova Southeastern.