Often known as “Particular Okay” within the basketball world, Ontario Christian Excessive level guard Kaleena Smith already has her sights set on the Southern Part profession scoring file.
“Sure, it's my acknowledged aim,” he says with absolute certainty and no hesitation.
Which will appear a bit untimely for a 15-year-old midway by means of her freshman season, however anybody who has watched her play is aware of why she is being known as maybe probably the most gifted ninth grader within the nation. She has almost 50,000 Instagram followers and has acquired scholarship presents from almost 20 NCAA Division 1 applications, together with UCLA, USC, Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana State and South Carolina.
“Folks from California know me, however my model and my picture has expanded extra nationally during the last yr,” he says. “It fits me now. Taking part in on the Nike EYBL circuit in the summertime provides me the possibility to journey throughout the nation to cities like Chicago, Dallas and New York. I find it irresistible.”
Ontario Christian coach Matt Tumambing insists Smith is destined for the WNBA.
“It's throughout social media,” he says. “Folks come from throughout to observe her play. It's wild!”
A touch upon her Instagram web page reads, “I'd fairly guard Steph Curry than freshman Particular Okay.”
Exaggeration? Hardly. Smith has the numbers to again up the hype.
Her 17-game averages seemed like a online game: 33 factors, six assists, 4 rebounds, three steals, one block and almost 48% capturing from the sphere. She totaled 40 or extra factors 5 occasions, 30 or extra 11 occasions and a minimum of 25 in each outing besides one, when she was restricted to 9 factors towards nationwide energy Lengthy Island Lutheran on the Nike Event of Champions in Phoenix — a recreation she was in from begin to end two-member.
The Southern Part scoring mark Smith is chasing belongs to her mentor and Knights predecessor Chloe Briggs, who broke Cheryl Miller's 41-year-old file of three,446 profession factors final February. Briggs completed her prep profession with 3,458 factors and graduated as Ontario Christian's all-time help chief with 951. A two-time Southern Part Participant of the 12 months and John Picket Award winner, she is in her first season on the College of Washington. Her sister Kailee is the top captain of the present Knights crew.
“Chloe left me a pleasant going away present,” jokes Tumambing. “She had an affect on Kaleena's determination to come back right here as a result of they know one another from the membership. They play the identical place and Kaleena appears to be like as much as her. Chloe retains sending her movies and texts with recommendation.”
“She advised me it was going to be onerous, however I needed to be the chief,” provides Smith, who lives in Perris, about 55 miles from campus, and was home-schooled earlier than becoming a member of Ontario Christian. “Chloe is an actual inspiration to me. I'm happy with her and I need to comply with in her footsteps from a small college.”
Smith selected Ontario Christian for a number of causes, one in all which is that it’s a Christian college the place she desires to, in her personal phrases, “develop my religion in God.”
“That is the very best match for me,” says Smith. “There are fewer distractions. I thought-about a number of different faculties like Windward and Rosary Academy, however we absolutely dedicated right here final January.”
Generously listed at 5-foot-6 on the MaxPreps roster, Smith appears to be like smaller, however her dimension doesn't damage as she makes up for her lack of top with fierce dedication and uncanny anticipation.
“The primary time I noticed her was at a clinic we held for seventh and eighth graders and I instantly seen her basketball IQ was years past her age,” says Tumambing, who led the Knights to the Open playoffs final season Division. after three straight components of the finals within the decrease divisions. “It's closed on a regular basis.” Each train goes 100%. He desires to get each property.”
Thanks largely to their younger star, the Knights (14-3) are ranked No. 5 within the Southland by The Instances and sixth within the newest CIF-SS ballot. On Dec. 21, they beat No. 3 Mater Dei 60-58 and eight days later beat No. 7 Moreno Valley within the Knight Time Basic championship recreation as Smith had 33 factors and 6 assists. She scored 36 factors on Saturday
91-50 rout of No. 11 Village Christian within the Matt Denning Nike Hoops Basic at Mater Dei.
“We met over the summer season and Kaleena has been an excellent addition to our crew,” says senior guard Dejah Saldivar. “She jogs my memory quite a lot of Chloe, the best way she handles the ball and will get the opposite gamers concerned. She's quiet at first, however when you get to know her, she's very good on and off the court docket.”
Smith recorded a triple-double in breaking the college's single-game scoring file, needing simply three quarters to attain 55 factors — together with 11 3-pointers — with 10 assists and 10 steals in a 136-29 win over Woodcrest Christian in December. 15.
Smith's subsequent alternative to impress comes Thursday night time when Ontario Christian hosts Rancho Christiana.
“Her teammates aren’t jealous of the eye she's getting,” says Tumambing. “I wished to sit down her within the second half of that recreation, however her teammates advised me she needed to break it.
There's no telling what number of information Smith will maintain earlier than she graduates, however for now, she's a younger woman with a singular focus — she simply retains getting higher. She takes 1,000 photographs a day and spent the summer season engaged on her mid-range recreation to change into a three-way shooter. Her each day routine is much like that of an expert athlete, together with morning weight lifting and energy and conditioning courses.
“Chloe was taller at 6 toes, however Kaleena will get to the rim higher and is a greater shooter,” Tumambing says. “He has the flexibility to attain at any degree, whether or not it's beneath the basket, on the free throw line or from 40 toes. He controls the tempo of the sport and is aware of manipulate the protection. On the woman facet, she could be the very best she's ever executed. I actually imagine that.”
Along with her means to attain, Smith is her crew's finest on-ball defender and performs with such depth that her coach has to maintain her from getting too fired up.
“She's by no means defeated and he or she's at all times in the correct place,” Tumambing says. “I'll attempt to save her power, however I 100% rank her as among the best gamers on the opposite crew with the sport on the road.” She has gotten into bother 3 times however has but to foul out. He is aware of when and get out of dangerous conditions.”
One purpose her protection is elite: Since age 8, she's been taking part in with and towards boys on a membership crew coached by her father. “I used to be used to it immediately,” says Smith. “Boys are canine and I'm a canine.” They received't allow you to undergo them.”
Smith was born right into a household of basketball fanatics. Each her father and mom performed the game in school, and he or she tries to set a very good instance for her 4 hoop-loving youthful siblings.
“I used to be 3 once I first picked up a basketball and had a mini hoop that my dad and mom and grandparents gave me,” she remembers. “I used to roll a basketball round the home and I cherished watching Kobe, LeBron and previous Michael Jordan clips.
“Household genes are loopy,” says Tumambing.
Smith, who wears No. 11, additionally performs for the California Storm's most elite journey crew, Group Taurasi, coached by her father Aundre, additionally a varsity assistant at Ontario Christian.
“My dad has excessive expectations of me and once I'm not performing effectively, he pulls me apart and says, 'Let's go!' My entire circle is like that,” says Smith. “I don't see it as strain. If you're a quarterback, you could have quite a bit in your plate. I prefer to rise up and down the court docket rapidly and play loosely, however I'm additionally good at working set performs.”
“Particular Okay” and the Knights are having fun with an underdog position this winter within the Ambassador League title chase, and as well as, they’ve entered the division championship recreation with their former celebrity gracefully passing the torch to the present one.
“I don't take into consideration the place I'm going to finish up,” Smith says of school. “Each provide I get is a blessing from God. With the ability to play the sport I like makes me pleased and life is nice proper now.”
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This story initially appeared within the Los Angeles Instances.
