Recruiting Update: Ethan Smith (2019 Union HS)
Photo Credit: The Columbian
Look up the word busy in the dictionary and you’re bound to see a picture of Ethan Smith. The sharp-shooting 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard has certainly been busy with the start of school at Union High, but when class isn’t in session he isn’t just sitting around. Smith has been busy honing his game but also very proactive with his college recruitment. He’s been taking campus visits to many of schools looking at him in an effort to make the best decision possible about his future.
Smith recently returned from an unofficial visit to Pacific Lutheran with his father, where they took a campus tour, met with admissions, sat in on classes, and met the coaches and players. “It was a packed day,” Smith said. “I liked it there. The coaches are great and their players all seem pretty nice. They’re trying to turn the program around and I think they’re on the right track.”
This visit came on the heels of a visit a little closer to his Vancouver home in Lewis & Clark. “I really liked it out there too,” Smith said. “They have a super nice campus and it has a nice feel to it, like the Pacific Northwest and all. The head coach there is new this year and I really like him. He and the assistant coach seem like really good guys and laid back.”
Before then, Smith visited Pacific in Forest Grove, participating in elite camp and later receiving a home visit from head coach Justin Lunt. He’s also visited Puget Sound for an unofficial and George Fox to play in open gym. It’s all exciting for Smith, who is taking these visits to see if they can offer him what he’s looking for in a college program.
“One thing I’ve been telling all these coaches is that I want a school with a good culture, like the locker room atmosphere and the team dynamic – all the interactions between the coaches and the players,” Smith said. “I’ve been really lucky because at Union we have a great culture there. I love all of the coaching staff and the players and I want to see if I can get something that’s similar to that. And I want to find the right fit with academics as well as athletics.”
Smith – best known for his deadeye outside shooting – noted that he’s being recruited by some schools as a wing but as a combo guard by some others. While he’s been taking a lot of visits, Smith said that not looking to decide anything soon, instead choosing to play out his senior year before making a commitment after what he hopes is a big season.
“I have super high expectations and big goals this year,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can make it to state and win the whole thing. We graduated seven seniors but all the guys that are coming up from JV are stepping into new roles over the summer. Also, I’m stepping into a whole new role with a more scoring mentality and creating plays – I’m really excited.”
Smith currently ranks as the #47 player in the PrepHoops Washington Class of 2019 rankings.