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.