RANCHO CUCAMONGA — Kennedy Smith didn’t have much left to accomplish in her senior year at Etiwanda high school that she hadn’t already done in the first three years.
Somehow, she found a way to check those previously unchecked boxes.
Smith led the Eagles to program firsts, earned Gatorade and Cal-Hi Sports state player of the year honors, and McDonald’s All-American honors, as well as earning her third straight Inland player of the year honor.
“She literally adapted on each (Etiwanda) team,” Etiwanda coach Stan Delus said. “The thing that people don’t understand is that she didn’t care about herself. It was always about the team, and what she can do to help the team. Whether she scored seven or whether she scored 30, it was just about the team.”
The 6-foot-1, USC-bound Smith averaged 20.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.9 steals this season, which included Etiwanda’s toughest schedule ever.
She finished her career with 2,122 points (first in program history), 912 rebounds (third), 351 steals (fifth), 303 blocks (fourth), 286 assists (sixth), and 278 3-pointers made (third).
“I definitely didn’t expect this type of legacy from my freshman year,” Smith said. “For me, I just tried to leave a lasting legacy and I think we definitely accomplished that goal.”
Smith not only finished her career by being named Cal-Hi Sports’ Ms. Basketball, but that was preceded by being named the state freshman, sophomore, and junior of the year. She is the seventh girl in state history to win a state player of the year award four times, and first since Destiny Littleton of The Bishop’s School (2014-17).
It is the eighth time an Inland player was named Ms. Basketball, joining Corona Centennial’s Jayda Curry (2021), Cajon’s Layshia Clarendon (2009), Don Lugo’s Diana Taurasi (1999-2000), Perris’ Maylana Martin (1996), and Riverside Poly’s Cheryl Miller (1981-82).
As far as team accomplishments go, Etiwanda not only won a second straight CIF State Open Division title, but for the first time in program history won the CIF Southern Section title in the same year. Etiwanda was No. 1 in the final national rankings by both MaxPreps and SB Live.
She capped off her senior year in the McDonald’s All-American game, scoring a team-high 15 points in the West’s loss to the East.
But not all of Smith’s successes could be found on a stat sheet.
“I think my leadership is something I’m going to be proud of,” Smith said. “Having the season we had wouldn’t have come without leadership from me and Puff (Aliyahna Morris). I think I also had an instinct of always wanting to win. So just doing whatever means necessary.”
Now Smith is off to USC, where she will be teaming with JuJu Watkins, a former rival from Sierra Canyon, who just finished her freshman season for the Trojans.
“It is going to be a little different, but I’m not going to back down from any challenge,” Smith said. “One thing I want to do is to see myself grow not only on the court but off the court as well.”
She did that at Etiwanda, so there’s no doubt she’ll do it at USC as well.
— PETE MARSHALL
IE VARSITY COACH OF THE YEAR
Larry Wright, Moreno Valley
Larry Wright took over the Moreno Valley girls basketball team following the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped the program experience a renaissance.
Despite having no seniors, the Vikings finished with a 30-6 record and won the Sunbelt League championship for the second straight season. Moreno Valley was the CIF Southern Section’s Division 2AA runner-up, marking the program’s first appearance in a section championship game since claiming the Division 1A title in 1999. The Vikings also advanced to the semifinal round of the CIF State’s Division I regional playoffs after taking down the No. 6 seed and No. 3 seed in the opening two rounds.
Moreno Valley was on the Southern Section’s Open Division watchlist throughout the season and checked in at No. 21 in Calhisports.com’s final state rankings, the program’s highest finish in those state rankings.
The Vikings have improved their victory total every season under Wright’s leadership: from 11 (2020-21), to 20 (2021-22), to 23 (2022-23), to 30 (2023-24).
— ERIC-PAUL JOHNSON
IE VARSITY FIRST TEAM
Maryah Anderson, Claremont, Sr.
Cydnee Bryant, Centennial. So.
Carrington Davis, Rialto, Jr.
Rylee Ghent, Santiago, Sr.
Grace Knox, Etiwanda, Jr.
Bella Medina, Moreno Valley, So.
Leiayjah Mills, Moreno Valley, Jr.
Aliyahna “Puff” Morris, Etiwanda, Jr.
Jackie Polk, Los Osos, So.
Kaleena Smith, Ontario Christian, Fr.
Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda, Sr. (Player of the Year)
Julia Wilson, Rancho Christian, Jr.
IE VARSITY SECOND TEAM
Ndiah Hall, Rancho Cucamonga, Jr.
Lucy Land, Yucaipa, Sr.
Kaden Marshall, Ontario Christian, Sr.
Sierra Maxwell, Heritage, Jr.
Alaysha Mills, Moreno Valley, Fr.
Amya Moody, King, Jr.
Aniyah Offutt, Centennial, Sr.
Zawadi Ogot, Santiago, Sr.
Tess Oldenburg, Chino, Fr.
Kyra Phaychanpheng, Chino Hills, Sr.
Bri Thomas, Great Oak, Jr.
Kiya Waters, Beaumont, Sr.
— ERIC-PAUL JOHNSON
