With teams focusing on JuJu Watkins, Kennedy Smith is USC’s March Madness X factor
LA TimesKennedy Smith was only 14, just a few games into her freshman season at Etiwanda High, when she first crossed paths on the court with Kiki Iriafen, who played at Harvard-Westlake. “She was a pest.” The two get along great now, as top-line starters for top-seeded USC, which is set to begin its NCAA tournament run with a Saturday afternoon matchup against No. But where Smith started her high school career as the primary option on offense, she’s had to carve out more of a complementary role alongside Watkins and Iriafen, who both dominate the ball. 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 hard on herself this season, nonetheless. “That’s what makes her who she is, what makes her so good.” And for USC, at the start of a possible tournament run, its fearless freshman is part of why the Final Four feels within reach.
History of this topic
Discover Related