Recruiting Report: Byron Smith (2019)
How often is it that you see a sophomore as the focal point of their squad? I mean, we’ve all seen it before, one way or another. But P.K. Yonge guard Byron Smith is starting to rise in a way…
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Continue ReadingHow often is it that you see a sophomore as the focal point of their squad?
I mean, we’ve all seen it before, one way or another. But P.K. Yonge guard Byron Smith is starting to rise in a way that I haven’t seen this up-close and personal in a good while.
The Blue Wave approach the district playoffs next week with a 17-7 record. Last year, they finished the season 23-5 while going unbeaten in 14 home games.
After just coming off a three-games-in-three-days home-stand, Smith must have worn last season’s game shoes the way he performed. Three wins, 76 total points for Smith.
This past Thursday against Eastside, the 6’0”, 165-pound sophomore notched 25 points off ten mid-range jumpshots and drives to the bucket. He also threw in five-of-nine free throws. The very next day against rival-Hawthorne, on P.K.’s senior-night no less, another 25-piece nugget dinner.
On Saturday, in the final game of the three-straight stretch, Smith decided show up in the second-half like none other against Santa Fe. After posting just seven points in the first half, he ended up finishing with TWENTY-seven. In the fourth quarter alone, “Byro” notched 14 points while going eight-of-nine from the stripe.
“It was a very good moment because the team looks up to me. I (felt) I had to take over the game and win the game for my team,” Smith said after hitting four crucial free throws in the last minute of the game against Santa Fe.
At this moment, the offers aren’t there. Yet. Gainesville’s still a city that is still building it’s clout in the world of prep basketball. But, he has a game that I’m sure many coaches would appreciate if they saw, first hand.
While he’s an aggressive penetrator, has awesome bounce in the legs, and is blooming in the ball-handling area, he does have his moments where he just needs to dish the rock.
He told me once that Russell Westbrook is his favorite player. Watching him all year, you can see where Smith tries to mimic his game. It results in many great plays, and every once in a while, a head-scratcher.
But, he’s a winner.
As long as he commits to working on the mental aspect of the game, builds some muscle and keeps his head in the books, he deserves to be another Division-1 student-athlete to come out of Philip Keyes Yonge Developmental Research School.