Kiara Smith shows she is ready to shine for defending champion Forestville

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/kiara-smith-shows-she-is-ready-to-shine-for-defending-champion-forestville/2015/12/15/a7627b90-a369-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_story.html

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Forestville senior Kiara Smith sliced into the lane, took the contact of a defender and powered a left-handed layup into the basket Tuesday night. The ensuing whistle could barely be heard over the cheers from her bench. It was only one flashy play out of many that the Knights girls’ basketball team orchestrated during a 72-51 win over Gwynn Park in Brandywine, but it meant so much more to their new facilitator.

“It’s a good feeling,” Smith said. “I missed it.”

Coming off its first Maryland 1A state title last year, No. 15 Forestville (3-0) looks poised for a repeat and not just because key pieces from that group are back. The Knights also added Smith, a Syracuse recruit who endured plenty of obstacles to make the lineup.

She began her high school career at McNamara but suited up for only 10 games as a freshman. Smith’s parents then kept her off the court the following winter to focus on academics. She garnered recruiting attention solely because of her exploits on the summer basketball circuit.

Then came last fall, once Smith transferred to Forestville. Her season ended before it started when she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a fall league game. She was relegated to the sideline during the historic run.

Over time, though, Smith realized this setback “wasn’t as bad as people thought it was.” She began to pick up nuances from the bench to apply when she did return. The Knights have already noticed a difference while racking up three straight blowout victories to start the season.

“Her IQ is on point. She knows who’s got the hot hand. She knows who’s slumping. She just adds that element of a leader,” sophomore Taleah Washington said. “I’m so proud for her because I know she’s been anxious to play a high school game. I don’t know how she did it sitting out three years.”

Smith, who scored 13 points Tuesday, said “I got it all back,” when asked about the health of her knee. Coach James Washington thinks she’s more like “85 percent” right now.

Regardless, her addition to the lineup gives the Knights an embarrassment of riches compared with most of their Prince George’s County competition.

Seven players had at least seven points on Tuesday, when the result was never in doubt. Gwynn Park (2-1) simply couldn’t keep up, undone by Forestville’s pressure defense and depth of talent, despite the best efforts of Yellow Jackets sophomore Tania Hill (18 points).

“We got our team back from last year, so she don’t got to work that hard,” Washington said of Smith. “But she does bring that X-factor to us.”