Reniya Kelly aims to finish prolific Hoover career on high note
Reniya Kelly already has accomplished more than any other player in Hoover girls basketball history.
The smooth, creative floor general was a part of three of the past four state championships as Buc and has led her team to a 21-1 record this season.
She started on the varsity squad as an eighth grader.
As a freshman, she displayed her trademark poise when she hit the game-winning basket the state semifinals. Hoover went on to win that championship, the first of her career and the school’s first championship since 2013.
Earlier this week against rival Vestavia Hills, Kelly scored her team’s first points on a spot-up 3-pointer in a 56-36 victory. Last month, Kelly passed Lyndsay Harris (2004-2008) to become the Hoover girls’ all-time leading scorer.
She now has scored more than 2,00 points in her career.
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“We’ve had so many great players and have had a lot of success as a program, so for her to reach that milestone and to be the first player to do it says a lot about the player she is,” Hoover coach Krystle Johnson said. “She led our team in assists the last four years and managed to score 2,000-plus points on a team where she’s surrounded by a lot of talent. So, for her to reach such a milestone is pretty remarkable.”
Kelly entered the perennial power Hoover program as an athletic guard who could defend and score. As she has continued to develop, Hoover has continued to dominate.
“She’s more of a leader,” Johnson said. “She is trying to learn to be more aggressive, to be stronger and make the right decisions. With (current FAU player) Aniya (Hubbard) leaving (last year), Reniya has to do more of the decision-making.
“She’s been everything to us. She can be a scorer. She can be a passer. She’s a leader and a rebounder. She has to do everything. Everybody’s game plan is stopping her. So that’s a lot to ask of someone who everybody is trying to stop.”
With the extra burden of leading this team, Kelly has shown this season that she can get even better. Through 22 games, Kelly has increased her rebounds per game to 5.0 and her assists to 5.4. While shooting 44 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from beyond the arc. She is averaging 14.2 points per game.
What did Kelly work on in the off-season?
“Just my shooting. Staying consistent with my shooting,” she said. “It used to be streaky, but now it’s very consistent. That’s the biggest thing from last year to this year.”
As a junior, Kelly averaged 14.7 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the floor. She shot 41.2 percent from deep with 4.9 assists per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.9 steals per game in helping the Bucs to their latest state championship.
Kelly can use either hand effectively on the court. So much so, it’s hard to notice if she is a natural right-hander or left-hander.
“I’m right-handed, but I can do stuff with my left (hand),” Kelly said. “I write with my left hand sometimes, and I do a lot of stuff with my left hand to get the strength up. Passing with my left and dribbling with my left is a big key to being a guard.”
Kelly will be taking her talents to the North Carolina to join the Tar Heels next season.
“Since I’m committed now, it took a lot of relief off me, so now I’m playing and having fun and doing what I do,” she said.
“North Carolina was a better fit for me. I felt that was the best opportunity for me to get better on and off the court. As soon as I visited, I was like, this is it, this is the place for me. Talking to them, I felt I could relate to them. I love the coaching staff It was just a great connection. From the time I started talking to them.”
Kelly shows the composure of a champion on every play.
Her athleticism creates a mismatch for the Buccaneers on the floor every night.
There is no doubt how she would like to finish her Hoover basketball career – with yet another state title.
“That’s the plan,” she said.
Hoover is scheduled to resume its season against Luella, Ga., Saturday.