Kennedy Smith poised to be USC womens March | College News

Kennedy Smith was solely 14, simply a few video games into her freshman season at Etiwanda High, when she first crossed paths on the court docket with Kiki Iriafen, who performed at Harvard-Westlake. Four years later, with each at USC, Iriafen nonetheless vividly remembers her first impression.

“I did not like her,” Iriafen stated, with a chortle. “She was a pest.”

The two get alongside great now, as top-line starters for top-seeded USC, which is set 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 court docket then, it seems, has made her an irreplaceable half of a Trojan lineup that now has critical Final Four aspirations.

“Everything you see from her this year, she’s always been like that,” Iriafen stated. “She’s fearless.”

That sport 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 totally different about Smith. Up in opposition to one of the highest gamers in Southern California, the 14-year outdated Smith solely ratcheted up her depth, blanketing Iriafen each time she touched the ball and blocking a number of pictures from the a lot taller senior ahead.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 sure to focus their consideration on Iriafen and star sophomore JuJu Watkins, the Trojans need 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 succesful of.

Doing so inevitably means relying, in a massive approach, on freshmen with none match expertise, comparable to Smith. She’s not the one one with a important complementary position, both — freshman guards Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel have additionally emerged as staples within the Trojans’ younger lineup, averaging 20 and 17 minutes per sport, respectively, after coming in because the No. 1 recruiting class within the nation final fall.

All three have introduced a sure fearlessness to the court docket as freshmen, whether or not it be Howell confidently pulling the set off from deep or Heckel knifing by means of the lane. None of them, nonetheless, have been examined on a stage comparable to the NCAA match, and since final Sunday’s announcement, lots of prognosticators have pointed to USC’s relative inexperience as cause to doubt the Trojans.

But Smith was raised, from a younger age, to climate that kind of crucible on the court docket. She sharpened her expertise by enjoying 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 all the time performed up a minimum of two age ranges.

“I never wanted anyone to take it easy,” Smith stated. “I had to prove myself that I could keep up.”

The influence of that basketball upbringing solely turned more clear to Delus as Smith grew as a participant. She excelled, from the beginning, as an on-ball defender. But she performed primarily within the post as a freshman. As years went on, she prolonged that defensive prowess to the perimeter and her vary to the three-point line.

Along the way in which, she helped carry Etiwanda to consecutive state titles in her junior and senior seasons, averaging over 20 factors per sport. As a junior, she personally shut down Watkins in her ultimate sport at Sierra Canyon, holding her to an uncharacteristic 16-point night time. It was one other event by which 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 totally different, as Smith arrived because the crown jewel of the Trojans’ prime recruiting class and instantly stepped into the beginning lineup. But the place Smith began her high college profession as the first option on offense, she’s had to carve out more of a complementary position alongside Watkins and Iriafen, who each dominate the ball.

She’s made settling in look seamless as a freshman. So a lot in order that her monthlong damage absence in November and December was, in accordance to coach Lindsay Gottlieb, a main cause the Trojans have been derailed of their first loss to Notre Dame. Last month, after USC beat Ohio State, Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff declared Smith “the unsung hero for this team.”

But Smith, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, has been onerous on herself this season, nonetheless. Nevermind that she’s third on the crew in scoring (9.5 factors), whereas rising as one of the best on-ball defenders within the Big Ten — all as a freshman.

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, at first of a doable match run, its fearless freshman is a component of why the Final Four feels within 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.”