Three-time Capital Conference basketball champion Wes Smith signed an agreement last week to pay ball for Umpqua Community College.
Smith, who will graduate next month, is the only athlete in Sweet Home High School history, as far as Coach Mark Risen is aware, to be a part of a conference championship team three times.
“I’m excited,” Smith said of playing for Umpqua.
Looking back at his high school career, he is pleased. He had not expected the success on the court that he saw.
Smith started on the junior varsity team his freshman year. The next year, he swung varsity.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Smith said, but he looks elsewhere for his program’s success. “There’s so many good guys, good programs, everything kind of developed together.”
This year, the Huskies were counted out, especially with the departure of Nate Tyler last year.
“I knew that we had enough guys coming back that we’d be okay,” Smith said. “And we’d have the talent to make it.”
Smith visited five community colleges looking for the best situation, the most opportunity to play and the atmosphere of the school before he settled on Umpqua.
As far as life in basketball after community college, Smith is going to “play it by ear” over the next two years. Academically, Smith is planning to major in architecture and attend the University of Oregon.
Looking at next year, “I think I’ll fit in really well with the team,” he said.
In addition to being on the championship team three years in a row, Smith was named team MVP and to the all-conference first and second teams. He also was named Husky defensive player of the year.
“I’ve been playing since I could pick up the ball pretty much,” Smith said. He doesn’t remember how he got into basketball just that he has almost always played the game.
He started organized basketball with the Boys and Girls Club in the first grade. In junior high, he played under Coach Ryan Aiello. His seventh-grade team finished second in its league. The eighth-grade team “did all right.”
Smith attributes his personal success at the game to mastering fundamentals.
“I just work a lot on fundamental skills and work on athleticism,” the 6’5″ senior said. “And I’m lucky to be tall.”