Girls' basketball player of the year: Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian
The junior guard who led the Knights to the state Division I title is the Southland's player of the year for a second consecutive season.
Kaleena Smith averaged 31 points, seven assists and four steals a game this season while playing for the No. 1 program in the Southland, but her expanded leadership role is what earns her the honor of The Times’ girls' basketball player of the year. The 5-foot-6 junior point guard marshaled Ontario Christian to the CIF state championships in Sacramento for the first time in the program's history and along the way her voice spoke almost as loudly as her game — surprising for someone who is not talkative by nature.
“Her numbers speak for themselves but the biggest difference in Kaleena this season has been her leadership,” Knights coach Aundre Cummings, said. “She’s always coming to practice first and leaving last, which teammates respect, but also knowing when to speak up. " She’s Magic Johnson.
Kaleena Smith. 1:16 left. Ontario Christian by three.
pic. twitter. com/U8juxPMYZG — eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) March 15, 2026 Smith has been nicknamed “Special K” for her talent and charisma, traits that make her one of the top national recruits in the class of 2027.