Jade Smith-Williams joins Spišská Nová Ves

Jade Smith-Williams: Kent Treptow / Daily Pilot

Spišská Nová Ves, the novice in Slovak Extraliga, have signed an American point guard Jade Smith-Williams.

The former key player of University of California – Irvine used to spent around 36 minutes per game on court and averaged 14,7 points. With Spišská Nová Ves, Irvine has signed a one-year deal. This is going to be her first season overseas.

Smith-Williams explains: When I graduated from college last June (2011), I went back and forth about whether or not I wanted to pursue an opportunity to play overseas. By the time I decided that I did want to give it a shot, it was pretty late and most teams already had full rosters.

The circumstances forced Jade to find a full time job and begin working. She continues: While I tried to convince myself that I was done with basketball and ready to start a “regular life”, I still sometimes thought about giving it another shot. I just was frustrated with the way things had gone the first time around and wasn’t sure if that opportunity would ever present itself to me. Now that I actually do have this opportunity to play, it is clear to me that I really wasn’t done with basketball. Things sort of just worked themselves out and here I am today, on my way to play in Slovakia.