Brianna Smith found inspiration to play basketball by watching her older brother Bryan shoot baskets outside their house as a three year old. She would later watch him play for St. John’s, a local church team.

“I saw [Bryan] practicing outside on the ten foot basket and I decided that I wanted to try it, and ever since then I [have been] playing,” Smith said.

Years later, Smith is starting for her high school varsity team and recently made the decision to continue her athletic career in college.  On Nov. 14, Smith officially committed to play basketball at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.

Along with her brother, Smith’s father has been a major supporter throughout her basketball career.

“My dad has been pushing me ever since I was a little kid and helping me succeed,” Smith said.

This year, Smith will be a senior leader and the most experienced player for Valley. Smith, a shooting guard, will be the lone returning member of last year’s starting unit, as the Indians lost four starters to graduation.

“She has learned to play some defense, she sees the floor so much better, and she’s a great teammate. She [has also] distributed the ball well,” PV coach Jeff Jasper said.

Smith has shown consistent growth throughout her high school career. As a junior last season, Smith scored 496 points and averaged 16 points per game. She made 115 three-pointers and averaged nearly 4 made threes per game. The prior season, she averaged 13 points per game and made 86 three-pointers.

“Brie has had a Steph Curry-esque shot and range ever since she was a freshman,” Jasper said.

According to Jasper, Smith has consistently improved each season, and that will need to continue this year to offset the significant losses in personnel.

“Not only is she able to get her own shot, but she is also able to make everybody else better on the floor,” Jasper said.