(Photo courtesy/California University of Pa.) ON?A?ROLL — Former Elkins High School standout Kayla Smith leads California (Pa.) against Franklin Pierce (N.H.) today in the NCAA Division II “Elite Eight” tournament.

Kayla Smith’s college basketball career may not have started out the way she wanted it to, but after a rocky start, things have definitely began to take shape for the former Elkins High School standout. After a stellar career at EHS, where she was a starter all four seasons years and an all-state selection her last three, Smith originally signed to play on the hardwood at Ohio University. But after a coaching change at the Mid-American Conference school, Smith decided to move on and eventually landed at California University of Pennsylvania. Smith knew playing at the next level wasn’t going to be easy and she felt prepared for any challenges thrown her way. What she wasn’t prepared for was something she never had endured in her entire playing career — a major injury. “I was pretty bummed when I first hurt my knee and found out I was going to miss my entire freshman year,” said Smith.