Earlier this month High Point beat Winthrop 91-76 in the Big South tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Panthers won 30 games this year under 1st-year coach Flynn Clayman, and will open as a #12 seed against Wisconsin in Portland on Thursday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with High Point dancer Hannah Smith about her 1st experience with madness last March and making the NCAA tourney.
You were born/raised in Davidson, NC: what made you choose High Point? I chose High Point University because it stood out among the other schools I was considering, especially within the School of Communications. I knew I would get the best hands-on experience for my major here, along with the benefit of smaller class sizes. That combination allows me to focus on developing the skills and experience I need to feel confident and prepared for life after graduation.
You are majoring in Strategic Communications with a minor in Social Media Marketing: how did you choose those subjects? I chose to major in Strategic Communications because I am fascinated by how organizations and people build trust and influence public perception. Since media and communications are so popular, I was interested in learning to implement and evaluate purposeful messaging. Rather than just learning to write, I wanted to understand the psychology behind persuasive communication, crisis management, and audience research. I then chose to minor in Social Media Marketing because I wanted to go beyond just using social media platforms for personal use and learn how to use them as strategic tools. This minor allows me to study algorithms, community management, analytics, and content creation, ensuring I can bridge the gap between brand strategy and daily digital engagement.
You are a junior: what is the post-graduation plan? My post-graduation plan is to continue dancing, ideally for an NBA or NFL team, while also working within professional athletics as a content strategist. This path would allow me to stay connected to dancing while using my skills in digital media and branding to help elevate professional sports organizations in the NBA or NFL.
During your 1st year on the dance team, you made a little history at NDA Nationals: how big a deal was it to place 3rd in Jazz in the D-1 category? It was such a huge accomplishment for our team and an unforgettable experience bringing home the hardware for the first time! It was our first time ever competing at nationals in school history, so we did not know exactly what to expect going into it. After all our hard work, along with the support from donors/parents/the University/the entire team, placing third set a high standard for our program. It meant so much to us that our hard work finally paid off and motivated our program to continue returning to nationals each year to improve and ultimately win.
Last March you traveled with the HPU women’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament in Austin, TX: what was your favorite memory from March Madness? My favorite memory from my first appearance in March Madness was calling sidelines for my first time ever and leading the team into such an incredible environment. Being in Austin and performing in a beautiful arena at the University of Texas arena was such a unique and thrilling atmosphere. Cheering on the Lady Panthers was something that I will never forget.
This year you are one of the co-captains: what is the key to being a good leader? As a first-year co-captain, the keys to being a good leader are leading by example, staying positive, and always putting the team first. It is important to be someone your teammates can truly trust and rely on, both on and off the court. At times we think we spend too much time together, but at the end of the day it is still not enough for me! Making sure that I can give my uplifting energy to anyone at any time is essential for the team to help everyone succeed in their own unique ways and talents.
In addition to school/dancing, you are in a sorority and have a job: how do you balance everything? It takes strong time management and organization. Honestly, it can get very hectic, but praise the Lord that I am busy with all these fun things! It is great to make so many connections through all the things I am involved in at High Point University. I rely on planning ahead, prioritizing my responsibilities, and staying disciplined with my schedule. I also make sure to stay present in whatever I am doing (whether that is practice, work, my sorority, or school) so I can give my best effort to each role. Having such constant support from family, friends, teammates, and God always by my side makes a huge difference in how I carry myself through thick and thin.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tournament, and what would it mean to perform on a national stage? Selections for the NCAA tournament are typically based on factors like GPA, class level, and readiness to represent the University at a higher level. Being chosen is such an honor because of the amount of media attention we receive by preforming on national TV. It is an opportunity to showcase all the hard work and long hours the dance team spends preparing behind the scenes to represent God/Family/Country in front of a wide audience.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Portland? Our dance team is absolutely thrilled to touch down in Portland and attend the first round on Thursday! We made sure to pack our best game-day attire to look our best on the court cheering on the Panthers! We are also excited to see the Panthers Club, High Point Students, and families that are flying all the way out to Portland to support the men’s team along with us! At the Big South Tournament, we incorporated our very own Prowler into our time-out dance, which might make a return to Portland! We are projected to play in the Moda Center, one of the largest college basketball arenas in the United States, which is incredibly exciting. It will be one of the biggest venues in which I have ever performed, and that alone makes the experience very special.
Any predictions for the Panthers this week? We are focused on bringing great energy, competition, and excitement while representing our program at the highest level…so with that being said, I am predicting a Panthers win!
