Soon Ole Miss will be home to three former Norco (Calif.) High School standouts. Pictured is 2019 signee Paige Smith.

A pipeline to a national powerhouse high school in California is paying dividends for the Ole Miss softball program.

The Rebels have one player from Norco (Calif.) High School already on their roster in freshman shortstop Mikayla Allee. As the season has progressed, Allee has offered a steady glove in the Ole Miss infield and provided a few clutch moments at the plate.

There are two more Norco standouts on the way to the program. Third baseman Paige Smith and outfielder Raegan Cheyne, both members of Ole Miss' 2019 signing class, will arrive in Oxford in late summer.

Norco High School (26-1) was ranked No. 1 in the nation in Softball America's high school top 25 until a loss to rival Santiago dropped them to No. 3 in this week's poll.

Paige Smith sits at the head of the Rebels' incoming class. The highest-rated signee in the group, she is ranked as the No. 18 overall prospect in the country by Softball America. By all accounts, she is expected to be a first-year impact player in the SEC.

Playing in one of America's toughest high school softball leagues, Paige Smith is hitting .377 with six home runs and 36 RBI's through 27 games this season.

What are Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith's expectations for Paige Smith when she arrives on campus?

"I'm just expecting Paige to be Paige," he said. "She is a fun-loving kid who loves to play the game of softball. She is a cage rat. I get videos sent to me all the time from her of her hitting in the cages and her blast numbers (metrics). Of course, I follow Norco High School softball because we've got two kids (signees) that are there. It's been fun to watch them go this year. They were the number one team in the country until they lost last week.

"Paige is just a hard-nosed stability type player."

Smith expects her to quickly challenge for a starting job somewhere in the infield.

"She plays against the best of the best week in and week out," said Mike Smith.

Paige Smith, left, and Raegan Cheyne at their signing ceremony at Norco High School.

Paige Smith has known for a long time that Ole Miss would be her college destination. She committed to the Rebels as a high school freshman back in February of 2016.

"I've always loved the South. I think the moment I stepped on the Ole Miss campus it felt different than every other campus. I felt like I was home. It just felt right," she shared.

"I knew what Coach Smith was doing at Ole Miss when I committed, because he was such a great coach. I knew the program was on an upswing. I just wanted to be a part of the Ole Miss upbringing for softball."

Paige Smith keeps a close eye on the Rebels from the West Coast, and her best friend, shortstop Mikalya Allee.

"I try to watch every game possible on the SEC Network and the shortstop is my best friend. They're a young team with a lot of energy. They want to work hard. People don't think Ole Miss has got there yet. Coach Mike hasn't been in the program a long time, and because they're not like an Oklahoma that's been around for so long. Ole Miss just does the unexpected and blows people's minds," she related.

What has Allee told Paige Smith about her short time at Ole Miss, thus far?

"She loves it. She's preparing me, helping me to know things before hand, so I'm not like shell-shocked," said Paige Smith.

"When I get there, I'm just going to work hard and wherever Coach Mike decides to put me, I'm going to fight for that spot."

Paige Smith will arrive on the Ole Miss campus on Aug. 17. Her high school teammate, Cheyne, will be her roommate.

2019 Ole Miss Softball Signing Class

Taylor Bachmeyer | RHP | Thorndale, Texas

McKenzie Barbara | C/1B | Lakewood, Calif.

Raegan Cheyne | OF | Norco, Calif.

Kinsey Kuhlmann | IF | Pflugerville, Texas

Paige Smith | 3B | Norco, Calif.

Nyomi Jones | OF | Long Beach, Calif.