Kennedy Smith was solely 14, only a few video games into her freshman season at Etiwanda Excessive, when she first crossed paths on the courtroom with Kiki Iriafen, who performed at Harvard-Westlake. 4 years later, with each at USC, Iriafen nonetheless vividly remembers her first impression.
“I did not like her,” Iriafen stated, with amusing. “She was a pest.”
The 2 get alongside nice now, as top-line starters for top-seeded USC, which is about to start its NCAA match run with a Saturday afternoon matchup in opposition to No. 16 North Carolina Greensboro. What made Smith insufferable on the courtroom then, it seems, has made her an irreplaceable a part of a Trojan lineup that now has severe Closing 4 aspirations.
“Everything you see from her this year, she’s always been like that,” Iriafen stated. “She’s fearless.”
That recreation in opposition to Iriafen, as a freshman, stands out in Stan Delus’ thoughts specifically. That was when the Etiwanda coach first noticed that there was one thing completely different about Smith. Up in opposition to one of many prime gamers in Southern California, the 14-year previous Smith solely ratcheted up her depth, blanketing Iriafen at any time when she touched the ball and blocking a number of pictures from the a lot taller senior ahead.
“Kennedy went at her — you would have swore she was 7-feet tall,” Delus stated. “She wasn’t afraid of the moment. And since then, the moment has never been too big.”
USC is relying on that to be the case within the coming weeks because the stakes proceed to ratchet up this March. With opposing groups positive to focus their consideration on Iriafen and star sophomore JuJu Watkins, the Trojans want others of their rotation to rise to the event in key moments in the event that they hope to make the deep run they know they’re able to.
USC guard Kennedy Smith celebrates after scoring whereas being fouled in opposition to Ohio State on Feb. 8 at Galen Middle.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
Doing so inevitably means relying, in an enormous means, on freshmen with none match expertise, akin to Smith. She’s not the one one with a essential complementary function, both — freshman guards Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel have additionally emerged as staples within the Trojans’ younger lineup, averaging 20 and 17 minutes per recreation, respectively, after coming in because the No. 1 recruiting class within the nation final fall.
All three have introduced a sure fearlessness to the courtroom as freshmen, whether or not or not it’s Howell confidently pulling the set off from deep or Heckel knifing by the lane. None of them, nonetheless, have been examined on a stage akin to the NCAA match, and since final Sunday’s announcement, loads of prognosticators have pointed to USC’s relative inexperience as motive to doubt the Trojans.
However Smith was raised, from a younger age, to climate that form of crucible on the courtroom. She sharpened her expertise by taking part in within the yard alongside her older brother, R.J., who now performs at Colorado, and his male mates, none of whom would let up on her account. On journey groups, she at all times performed up no less than two age ranges.
“I never wanted anyone to take it easy,” Smith stated. “I had to prove myself that I could keep up.”
The affect of that basketball upbringing solely grew to become extra clear to Delus as Smith grew as a participant. She excelled, from the beginning, as an on-ball defender. However she performed primarily within the publish as a freshman. As years went on, she prolonged that defensive prowess to the perimeter and her vary to the three-point line.
Alongside the way in which, she helped raise Etiwanda to consecutive state titles in her junior and senior seasons, averaging over 20 factors per recreation. As a junior, she personally shut down Watkins in her closing recreation at Sierra Canyon, holding her to an uncharacteristic 16-point evening. It was one other event wherein the second by no means appeared too massive.
“There has always been a big, bright light on me and my team,” Smith stated.
This season has been no completely different, as Smith arrived because the crown jewel of the Trojans’ prime recruiting class and instantly stepped into the beginning lineup. However the place Smith began her highschool profession as the first choice on offense, she’s needed to carve out extra of a complementary function alongside Watkins and Iriafen, who each dominate the ball.
She’s made settling in look seamless as a freshman. A lot in order that her monthlong damage absence in November and December was, in keeping with coach Lindsay Gottlieb, a serious motive the Trojans had been derailed of their first loss to Notre Dame. Final month, after USC beat Ohio State, Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff declared Smith “the unsung hero for this team.”
However Smith, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, has been laborious on herself this season, nonetheless. Nevermind that she’s third on the group in scoring (9.5 factors), whereas rising as top-of-the-line on-ball defenders within the Huge Ten — all as a freshman.
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It’s simply in her nature, her teammates say.
“She expects greatness out of herself,” guard Talia von Oelhoffen stated. “That’s what makes her who she is, what makes her so good.”
And for USC, firstly of a attainable match run, its fearless freshman is a part of why the Closing 4 feels inside attain.
“She’s a huge part of our ability to make a long run now,” Gottlieb stated. “But even more so, I think she’s going to be a problem for everyone else in the country for several years.
“Because we think she’s that good.”
