Sportstars
Kendall Smith Deer Valley –  Basketball Kendall Smith Deer Valley –  Basketball
If people didn’t know who Smith was a couple weeks ago, they definitely do now. He set a NorCal Tipoff Classic record with 48... Kendall Smith Deer Valley –  Basketball

If people didn’t know who Smith was a couple weeks ago, they definitely do now. He set a NorCal Tipoff Classic record with 48 points as he led the Wolverines to a thrilling 97-96 Double OT victory over Sacramento on Nov. 25. He followed that up with 35 points against Bishop O’Dowd on Dec. 1.

If people didn’t know who Smith was a couple weeks ago, they definitely do now. He set a NorCal Tipoff Classic record with 48 points as he led the Wolverines to a thrilling 97-96 Double OT victory over Sacramento on Nov. 25. He followed that up with 35 points against Bishop O’Dowd on Dec. 1.

SportStars Magazine: You quietly had a 48-point game. Did you have that mindset of putting up big numbers going into it?

Kendall Smith: Honestly at this point I just go in to games looking for the win. Points, assists, rebounds — none of that really means anything to me. … It was more so, ‘I’m gonna do whatever my coaches need me to do to win.’

SSM: Does being (Kentucky-bound recruit) Marcus Lee’s teammate take the pressure off?

KS: Not at all. It increases the pressure on me. A lot of players and people know I’m a good player. … I get so much attention on the back end. … I just feel like a lot of teams are gonna put pressure on me now that I had that good game. I’m just taking it day by day. 

SSM: How have you grown from last season? 

KS: I’ve grown a lot. Over the summer I worked out at 6 a.m. every morning. A lot of work in the gym and it’s paying off. … I was more of a stat guy last year, this year I feel like it’s more about the win. 

SSM: You’re playing a lot of tough opponents to open the season. What’s the goal for you and your team during this time? 

KS: We’re just trying to win. I got a great group of guys. … We just want to be a great group of kids. We’re trying to be more of a family this season.

 

KENDALL’S QUICK HITS

Favorite athlete: Russell Westbrook

Favorite team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Who are you listening to right now: Kirk Franklin, Meek Mill, Lil Boosie

 

Honorable Mention

 

Julia Maxwell — The junior from Branson-Ross defended her CIF Div. V cross country state crown winning by more than a minute clocking in at 17:26.

 

Aidan Goltra — The Campolindo junior won the CIF Div. III cross country state championship on Nov. 24 with a 3.1 mile time of 15:18 in Fresno. 

 

Allie Wheeler — The USC-bound senior helped Archbishop Mitty volleyball cap off an undefeated season (38-0) with a team-high 14 kills against Martin Luther King-Riverside on Dec. 1. 

SportStars Magazine best in prep sports

SportStars

SportStars Magazine: High School Sports Articles Online SportStars is your go-to source for the very best high school sports articles in California. Player and team profiles, game coverage, health and fitness tips and the largest Camps, Clinics & Combine resource for athletes. We're the story behind the stats.

No comments so far.

Be first to leave comment below.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *