Girls' Basketball Player Of The Year: Kaleena Smith Of Ontario Christian

Kaleena Smith averaged 31 points, 7 assists and 4 steals a crippled this play while playing for nan No. 1 programme successful nan Southland, but her expanded activity domiciled is what earns her nan grant of The Times’ girls’ hoops subordinate of nan year.

The 5-foot-6 inferior constituent defender marshaled Ontario Christian to nan CIF authorities championships successful Sacramento for nan first clip successful nan program’s history and on nan measurement her sound said almost arsenic loudly arsenic her crippled — astonishing for personification who is not talkative by nature.

“Her numbers speak for themselves but nan biggest quality successful Kaleena this play has been her leadership,” Knights coach Aundre Cummings, said. “She’s ever coming to believe first and leaving last, which teammates respect, but besides knowing erstwhile to speak up.”

Smith has been nicknamed “Special K” for her talent and charisma, traits that make her 1 of nan apical nationalist recruits successful nan people of 2027. She is garnering attraction from aggregate assemblage programs. USC women’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb was moreover connected manus to witnesser Smith people 23 points and lend six assists successful nan Southern California location semifinals against Etiwanda connected March 8 and nan authorities title crippled against Archbishop Mitty astatine Golden 1 Center successful Sacramento.

“I’m being much vocal, yes, because I’m gonna person to do that successful college,” said Smith, who spent countless hours refining her mid-range jumper this winter. “As skipper it’s 1 of my responsibilities.”

One 100 games into her precocious schoolhouse career, Smith is surviving up to nan hype thrust upon her erstwhile she was named MaxPreps’ nationalist freshman of nan Year successful 2024. She passed nan 2,000-point plateau erstwhile she scored 51 points against Esperanza successful November.

Smith paced Ontario Christian to nan Southern Section Open Division title arsenic a sophomore and though nan Knights were denied a repetition (she had 30 points and 5 assists successful a finals conclusion to Sierra Canyon) her stats are amended successful each important category. Intertwined pinch her competitory tone and winning mindset is nan maturity and assurance of an upperclassman.

“Her activity is what stands out,” sophomore teammate Tatianna Griffin said. “She’s a very quiet person. I’m not judge it comes people aliases not but erstwhile she says thing we listen.”

Griffin’s ain crippled has blossomed because of Smith’s willingness to springiness her nan shot successful clutch situations, and Smith has been a mentor to freshman Chloe Jenkins, who led nan squad successful rebounds (11.3 per game).

Adding activity to her hoops IQ, tribunal vision, defense, quickness, shooting, passing and dribbling has made Smith a complete player, 1 who is poised for a elder play worthy talking about.