GRAND FORKS — Kinley Smith had several offers after her junior year of high school, three of which were Division I.

On Aug. 10, she picked the Division I university farthest from her hometown of Fouke, Arkansas: UND.

https://x.com/kinleysmith2026/status/1954660631103385885

The 6-foot-2 forward paid visits to a large swathe of schools, including Southeastern Louisiana and Oral Roberts.

However, finding a program that was the “right fit” culturally was key for Smith. One of the draws of the Fighting Hawks was the familial atmosphere crafted by head coach Dennis Hutter.

“I love the culture that Coach Hutter has built,” Smith said. “I just feel like I fit in the best at UND. I feel like I fit the playing style, and I feel like I'm just like the other girls, too. … The biggest thing that I

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