Standing at a mere six feet and eight inches above the court, sophomore Alex Smith scored 20 points, as well as five assists and nine rebounds, dominating this year’s season opener against Mifflin High School on Dec. 2.
Primarily playing the small post position with occasional time as a power forward, Smith enjoys feeling the crowd’s enthusiasm and energy during games. The most meaningful games are the ones where he can play the game he knows while feeding off of the liveliness and cheers of the stands.
“Last year at the Dublin Coffman game at home, we ran out and it went crazy. I really just got the chills,” Smith said.
Packed student sections and intense matchups hardly phase his love for the sport.
“It can be really nerve-racking, but when I get out there, it really all goes away, and there’s a lot of adrenaline to it, so it’s just really fun,” Smith said.
When it comes to game days as a student-athlete, his focus is direct and narrow.
“My mindset is to just get through school and not focus on basketball until school is out, then I really get ready for basketball,” Smith said.
Before every game, Smith superstitiously eats a bowl of Piada spaghetti, then sets his headspace to getting warmed up and ready to go during warmups.
Smith began playing basketball in kindergarten but began to take it more seriously in seventh grade. As he quit football and increased his focus on basketball, Smith was taken under the wing of Onno Steger, a former UA player continuing his basketball career overseas in Europe.
“I definitely have a lot of things to look up to him for. He kind of took me under his wing in seventh grade and really showed me how I can make it to the next level with my abilities,” Smith said.
Training daily either through practice or doing strength or skills work with a trainer, taking only the occasional break every few weeks, Smith remains committed to excelling in his sport and continuing his career past high school.
“I really want to get to the next level, and I want to play in the NBA when I’m older. It really motivates me because there’s a big reward, so I have to put in a lot of time and effort,” Smith said.
Outside of the school season, Smith plays AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball with Midwest Basketball Club, traveling around the country to play in showcases and circuits in front of college coaches.
Apart from his career goals, Smith sets his focus on the school season ahead of him.
“Well, obviously, we want to win a state championship, but first off, just win a league game. We want to win about, like, seven or eight,” Smith said.
Smith says that young athletes and basketball players should continue to put in effort if they want to keep getting better.
“Keep working, what you put in is what you get out,” he said.
