Flintridge Prep's Kenyatta Smith Wins Wooden Award

Kenyatta Smith led to the ultimate team prize this year — a CIF-Southern Section divisional championship. Now he’s claimed the ultimate individual honor.

Last week, Smith was one of seven players to be selected as a John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year.

"I wasn’t even expecting to be nominated, but when I found out I was just really humbled and felt really blessed," Smith said.

“It’s a great honor to be selected, and to have that Wooden honor attached to anything is prestigious,” Flintridge Prep coach Garrett Ohara said.

Smith led the Rebels to their first divisional championship when he scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 47-44 win over Muir in the CIF-SS Division 5AA title game on March 5.

The Rebels went on to advance to the second round of the CIF State Division V Southern California Regional playoffs and finished with a 24-7 record. Smith, 6-foot-8, averaged 20 points and 14.7 rebounds per game this season and will play college ball at Harvard next year.

Past winners include current NBA stars Baron Davis, Tayshaun Prince, Tyson Chandler and Andre Miller.

“It’s actually pretty amazing," Smith said. "Those are some pretty widely known names.”

Smith will receive his award during the John R. Wooden Award Gala on April 8 at the Los Angeles Athletics Club. The 35th annual Wooden Award ceremony will also honor the college men’s and women’s Wooden Award winners and the Wooden All-America teams, along with the presentation of the Legends of Coaching Award to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.