Recruiting Report: Josiah Smith (2020)
There will be some players with familiar faces in new places this winter. Josiah Smith averaged 17.4ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.1apg, and 1.4spg, with Birmingham Roeper last season. The junior point guard will now play for Detroit Catholic Central. Smith played grassroots basketball for MWA Elite. The 6’4” athlete will be a must see prospect this season.
Josiah Smith has elite level talent. He’s an excellent shooter from both behind the three point line and mid range. Smith has the ability to both catch and shoot, or shoot off the dribble. He’s a playmaker in transition, having the ability to lead the break or fill in on the wing. Smith is excellent in a one-on-one situation as well. He can breakdown defenders off the dribble and create his own look at the basket.
Smith is hard at work improving his game and preparing for the coming season. He is focused on his strength and athleticism. Smith is spending time in the weight room and working with trainers. He’s also expanding his game defensively by using his length on the perimeter. Smith is excited about his transfer to Detroit Catholic Central and the opportunity to play for Coach Sinawi. “I try to put up at least 500 shots a day and Coach Sinawi expects that type of attitude from everybody,” he said.
Josiah Smith is an experienced and decorated basketball player. He was the MVP of the MIAC last season at Birmingham Roeper. Smith was an Honorable Mention for the Detroit News All Metro North Team. He was a Team Captain and Voted Team MVP by his teammates last year. “Being voted by my teammates meant the most,” Smith said.
Smith has the opportunity to be a highly recruited player in the near future. He was born in Houston and moved to Detroit when he was young. Smith was invited, and attended, Rice Universty’s camp this season and keeps in contact with one of their assistant coaches. He was also invited to multiple Ivy League camps (Cornell, Brown, Princeton, and Penn) because of his outstanding grades and PSAT score. Smith has talked with coaches from Penn and Central Michigan.
Josiah Smith has a lot to offer a program at the next level. He’s a good student who enjoys reading, attending engineering programs, and speaks fluent French. Smith is quiet young man who lets his game and his work ethic speak for him. He is willing to do whatever is needed to improve as a basketball player and help his team be successful. Smith is versatile enough to play the 1, 2, or 3. He values winning, and makes it his top priority.
Smith is extremely intelligent and goal oriented. Right now, he wants to be a Division 1 basketball player. His parents have always stressed academics first, so he would like to play for a well regarded academic institute like schools in the Ivy League, Patriot League, or Rice. Smith is also interested in schools like the University of Michigan and Northwestern. After college, he would like to be a professional basketball player, or a mechanical or environmental engineer.
Josiah Smith is a young man with a bright future both on and off the court. He is motivated to be the best that he can be. “My Parents are my greatest motivation to achieve my goals. My mom got her PhD after years and years of schoolwork and sacrifice and my Dad started a business in Downtown Detroit after having not a lot of experience in that field. They were both born in Detroit and they worked really hard to get where they are and I guess that’s where I get my work ethic from.”