OSAWATOMIE, Kan. --- Basketball has been a key pillar in Amiah Simmons life for a long time, and the guard has completely embraced the path it took to attain her ambitions for her college years.

Playing year-round, the training that continued on breaks and vacations, and the impressive awards all helped build toward the achievement Simmons realized when she signed with Biola Women's Basketball. Simmons has had a long-standing dream of playing high-level college basketball in California and Head Coach Alan Nakamura's team is just as eager to have a player of her caliber joining the program.

"Amiah has been our top recruit for the Class of 2021 for a couple of years. And we have enjoyed getting to know her and her family during that time," said Coach Nakamura. "I believe the Biola Basketball family is the perfect fit for what she was looking for: a welcoming university environment, a place to grow in her faith, outstanding academics, and an upbeat team that fits her personality and ability, all while enjoying our beautiful campus in Southern California!

"The team has already welcomed Amiah with open arms, and we are all looking forward to the day she steps on campus as a Biola student-athlete!" 

Simmons has been recognized among the best prep guards in Kansas as a result of her first three years of high school at Blue Valley Southwest High School. Now at Osawatomie High for her senior year, Simmons has reached the Kansas 5A State Championship game and earned All-State honors from multiple syndicates by the conclusion of her junior year. The Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves won 18 games during Simmons' sophomore season, earning upset victories in the KSHSAA quarterfinals and semifinals while winning each contest by two points. 

Then Simmons took on a leadership role on the floor in 2019-20, leading the Timberwolves and the entire 5A class in scoring at 18.2 points per game. Simmons just eclipsed 400 points during the 22-game schedule after scoring in double figures in every contest and surpassing 20 points in seven games. 

She also had seven games with three steals or more, collected a sub-state championship and added three all-tournament team recognitions to a high school resume that still has one more year to develop. And it is not as if that resume is exclusive to basketball, either. Simmons earned All-State track honors as a freshman after finishing fifth in 100m hurdles at the KSHSAA State 5A Track & Field Championships. Then the Osawatomie volleyball team won a Pioneer League Championship this past October with Simmons playing on the front row for the Trojans.  

When she does get to Biola, Simmons plans to major in health sciences and minor in Spanish. She's already hard at work in camps and training for her upcoming senior campaign. But there's a sense of relief while she trains because she's confident she'll enroll at a university that will support her holistic development. 

"I am very grateful and blessed to be going to a school that is invested in helping me grow in my faith," said Simmons. "I chose Biola over other schools because I really liked the bond I made with Coach Alan. And I felt wanted and I like the family environment Biola offers."

Amiah Simmons will join Biola Women's Basketball in Fall 2021. More information on the rest of the student-athletes that will join her at Biola in 2021-22 can be found on the Committed Athletes page.