Putnam City West girls basketball standout Caya Smith continues personal transformation with Division I opportunity

OKLAHOMA CITY - Caya Smith thought it was just going to be another normal day.

Before the Putnam City West senior sat down to sign her national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Oklahoma, she hadn’t really thought about how big of a life-changing moment it was going to be. 

But the moment Smith walked into the PCW gymnasium Nov. 17 and saw her family, friends and coaches, it finally hit her.

“I didn't realize I would be as emotional as I was until I actually got there and was trying to get it out,” Smith recalled. “I was like, man, this is a big step.

"I was excited. I made my family proud and I can tell I made them proud and it kind of just made me emotional.”

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It wasn’t just that Smith had become one of the top players in the state and had been recruited by programs around the country that she said made her family proud. It was the transformation she had gone through to get to that point.

“They have seen me growing,” Smith said. “I didn't think I was as immature as I was. But yeah, they see the girl I am now and the girl I was then.”

One of those in the gym watching Smith sign was Putnam City West coach JaRon Jefferson. He knew how big of the moment it was not just for the basketball player, but also the woman.

“That's big time. At the end of the day, as a coach you want to see your player go to college for free,” Jefferson said. “At the end of the day, that's all we think about. That's it. Student-athlete and further your education for free.”

Part of Smith’s growth has been for her to believe in her talents as much as those around her. She admits it took a while for her to see what others had been watching for a few years. 

Smith said it wasn’t as if she didn’t see it before then, but it wasn’t something she paid much attention to. For most of her career, the 6-foot-1 wing just went out and played the game.

According to Smith, OU coach Jennie Baranczyk helped Smith realize she could do more.

“I would say, having the talks that I had with Coach Jennie, she helped me realize that I could be the player that she sees that I am," Smith said. "And I finally saw that this year.”

As a junior, Smith averaged 13.2 points and helped guide PCW to the Class 6A state tournament before losing to eventual champion Edmond North in the semifinals. She also took home the Class 6A long jump state title during track and field season.

But in her final year before heading off to join the Sooners, Smith is looking to lead the Lady Patriots to their first championship since 1981.

During the offseason, Smith worked on her game to become an even more difficult player to contend with.

“I just want to see her be a senior leader,” Jefferson said. “Just make sure that she keeps that same composure the whole way no matter what kind of adversity we are going through. Just stay locked in for four quarters.”

PCW started the year at 7-0 and already had wins over Norman High and Grind Prep Academy. Then, the Lady Patriots extended that record to 15-0 by getting revenge on Edmond North, winning 47-45 in the title game of the Jenks/Union Invitational on Jan. 20.

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However, three nights after the emotional win against Edmond North, PCW was upended, 58-53, by Edmond Santa Fe. The Lady Patriots have won two more games since then, and stand at 17-1 entering Friday's home game against Lawton.

By most estimations, they are considered the top team in the state but Smith says they have to go out and prove it each night.

“I believe we could be as good as we want to be," Smith said. “I don't think anybody could defeat us other than ourselves."

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK