TOLEDO, Ohio – Head coach Tricia Cullop and the Toledo women's basketball team announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Kendall Braden (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Christian), Destiny Robinson (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont Ross), and Courtney and Heidi Smith (London, Ontario/J. Addison School) will all join the Rockets for the 2024-25 season.

"We were very fortunate to find these four student-athletes," Cullop said. "All four live in the gym, have a high understanding of the game, are strong students, are high-character people, and will help us continue to maintain the high standards we've set for our program."

Kendall Braden | Guard | Toledo, Ohio | Toledo Christian
Braden has put together an outstanding career at nearby Toledo Christian, leading her team to the OHSAA Division IV State Championship game last season. As a junior in 2022-23, she averaged 20.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 3.2 SPG and was named Player of the Year by the Toledo Blade and the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC). The First-Team All-Ohio honoree connected on a school-record 74 three-pointers last season and shot a blistering 48.3% from beyond the arc last year. Braden averaged 22.3 PPG and 5.0 APG as a sophomore in 2021-22, leading Toledo Christian to a 22-5 overall record.

Tim Wensink, Toledo Christian Basketball Head Coach: "Kendall is a great team player with an unbelievable work ethic. She is a leader and her coaches and teammates love her. I am extremely blessed to coach Kendall. We are all so excited she will be a Rocket."

Coach Cullop on Kendall: "I've known Kendall since she was little because she attended our day camp. We are excited to keep a Toledo native home. She's worked her tail off to get stronger and improve her game. She possesses a high IQ, is extremely skilled, and has an outstanding work ethic. She's a three-level scorer and elite passer who makes everyone around her better."

Destiny Robinson | Guard | Fremont, Ohio | Fremont Ross
Another local player, Robinson was named Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) Co-Player of the Year last year and is a three-time All-TRAC honoree. She averaged 16.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 3.1 SPG last year en route to being named the District 6 Co-Player of the Year and a second-team All-Ohio selection. Robinson has helped lead Fremont Ross to a 59-15 record in her three seasons on the varsity squad and is a three-time, first-team all-district selection as well. Off the court, she has been named first-team academic all-conference three times.

Juan Vela, Fremont Ross Basketball Head Coach: "Destiny is the ultimate competitor. She competes with herself to become the best player. She has led our team to new highs as a program with her leadership skills, unselfish play and a work ethic that is contagious. She is very excited to grow as a person and a player in the next phase of her life at Toledo under Coach Cullop's leadership."

Coach Cullop on Destiny: "As we watched Destiny this past season, we became more and more impressed. She's a gym rat, fierce competitor, and high-level scorer. She's a local product who thrives in big moments and leads her team by example. We are thrilled she's a Rocket."

Courtney Smith | Guard | London, Ont. | J. Addison School
Heidi Smith | Guard | London, Ont. | J. Addison School
Twin guards from Canada, Courtney and Heidi Smith boast impressive resumes playing for J. Addison School in London, Ontario. Courtney averages 16 PPG, 3 APG, and 3 SPG while Heidi averages 18 PPG, 5 RPG, 3 APG, and 2 SPG. Heidi was named to the 2022-23 Biosteel All-Canadian team and was a second-team OSBA All-Star, while also being nominated for Canletes Player of the Year. The twins have been playing together for almost 15 years and have competed together on the national stage as well, representing Team Manitoba at the Junior NBA Global Championships in 2019

Jon Giesbrecht, Courtney and Heidi's longtime trainer: "Courtney and Heidi Smith have consistently been the most been competitive, resilient and articulate athletes in our programming. For years they have dedicated their lives and been obsessed in their approach to their development. With the University of Toledo, the twins will be the toughest 1-2 punch in NCAA women's basketball."

Coach Cullop on Courtney and Heidi: "What impressed me most about Courtney and Heidi was their motor and versatility. They both play incredibly hard, drawing fouls and scoring many of their points at the free throw line. They are in incredible shape, are outstanding teammates, and thrive in an up-tempo game. They will fit our high-paced offense and aggressive defensive schemes perfectly. They will also be the first set of twins I've coached at the collegiate level."