For Deer Valley High this season, senior forward Andre McPhail and senior guard Quincy Smith will probably get most of the recognition and attention from opposing teams. After that, junior shooting guard Olajuwon Garner can light it up from the outside. But the Wolverines started play this season with sophomore combination guard Kendall Smith as a starter who has shown signs of being the leader of this pack.
Smith who along with his older brother Quincy Smith transferred from Salesian High to Deer Valley High this past year to shorten their commute distance will play a critical role this to the Wolverines success in the Bay Valley Athletic League. Deer Valley High Coach LeChet Phillips says, "Kendall's strengths are his ability to go hard to the basket and finish. He has a keen court awareness that keeps him ahead of the opposition and he doesn't back down. Good mid-range game and has good playmaking abilities. He is a competitor with a type A personality that is going to rise to a challenge."
At 6-foot and 155 pounds, Smith considers himself to be a finesse player because he is very smooth on the court and his teammates consider him laid back. He likes the step back dribble because it creates space from him and his defender. He works on his ball handling and passing during the off season so he can be a sharp distributor during the regular season. He also plays for his Team Superstars club team. Smith has been playing basketball since he was five years old and is entering his first year as a varsity starter.
Smith models his game after former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant because he is a beast on both sides of the court, is a great team leader, can be affective anywhere on the court, and can play really good defense. Smith's individual goal this year is to be able to contribute to his team whether it is scoring or playing good defense while his team goal is to win the state championship.
His older brother, Quincy Smith, has been getting serious recruiting looks from Colgate, Weber State, Portland, Portland State, and Northeastern. As a sophomore, the younger Smith has not been in contact with any colleges but Coach Philips has been getting initial feeler phone calls from several interested colleges. Smith wants to play for a good coach with a group of good players so that he can take his game to the next level. He likes the Pac-10 conference but is open to anywhere for college. Smith carries a 3.00 GPA and would like to major in Business or Forensic Science as his favorite subject is English.
Coach Phillips says, "Kendall has the potential to be a high D1 prospect. The level he gets to is really up to him and his personal motivations. He has all of the tools in his kit and if he chooses to use them, he'll be off the charts. I've only worked with Kendall for a short period of time but I've come to appreciate the fire he has burning inside to be the best basketball player he can be. He's open to criticism and contrite when he finds himself astray from where he should be but he's gaining that focus that will help him achieve his goals. He is special so everybody should pay attention."
Nicknamed "Cadillac" by his teammates because of his smooth play, Smith is religious and attends Grace Bible Fellowship in Antioch. He also runs track and field. Look for this Wolverine running his pack for the next few years in Antioch.
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