"She got that Hannah Hidalgo bag": Hoops fans react to No. 1 sophomore Kaleena Smith's MVP performance with Sabrina Ionescu in attendance

WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu was in attendance to watch Ontario (California) Christian beat Archbishop Mitty High School 61-44 on Saturday. Kaleena Smith, the No. 1-ranked sophomore in high school girls basketball, made her visit worthwhile as she delivered 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists to lead the Knights and was named the MVP of the SI20 Showcase.

On Instagram, MaxPreps highlighted her performance in a post that featured a series of videos showcasing the player in action and two images, including one of Smith posing for a picture with her MVP award alongside Ionescu. As expected, the post has generated reactions from fans about the five-star prospect.

Some commented on the player's ability, with one drawing a comparison to Notre Dame sophomore point guard Hannah Hidalgo, a 2023 five-star recruit.

"She is tough. She got that Hannah Hidalgo bag," one fan wrote.

"Reminds me of Alexis Morris (a 2023 NCAA champion with LSU)," another posted.

Most of the comments, however, centered around the player's incredible talent and skill and had fans pouring in praise.

"She is GENERATIONAL special!💯🔥🔥🔥," one fan wrote.

"Bruins!!! All day, cmon!! Man, she got incredible handles and passing skills, too," another commented.

"She got that ball on a string 🔥," one fan posted.

"Just a sophomore is crazy," another fan commented.

"She got that Hannah Hidalgo bag": Hoops fans react to No. 1 sophomore Kaleena Smith's MVP performance with Sabrina Ionescu in attendance. (Image via Instagram @maxpreps)

Kaleena Smith has been crucial for the Knights from the moment she joined the team. As a freshman, she averaged 34.9 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Now in her sophomore year, she is averaging 23.3 ppg, 7.9 apg and 3.0 rpg, helping the Knights to a 20-1 record.

Kaleena Smith and Ontario Christian Knights avenge only defeat of season with win over Archbishop Mitty

Ontario Christian was on a 14-game winning streak before facing the Mitty Monarchs in December. Even with star player Kaleena Smith, the Knights lost 59-34, their lowest-scoring game of the season.

Since that loss, the Knights have bounced back in style, stringing together five consecutive wins before Saturday's rematch. This time, the Knights delivered a commanding 61-44 victory to execute the perfect revenge.

Kaleena Smith's 23-point haul was crucial for the victory. Tati Griffin, a 5-foot-11 freshman, and Sydney Douglas, who is also a freshman, also played key roles, contributing 14 and nine points, respectively.