Day after day, Jaylen Smith (’27) has successfully been refining his basketball skills with hours and hours of training. The varsity point guard’s ability to dominate the court has resulted in nearly ten Division 1 offers from top colleges.
“It feels like a blessing to be recognized by so many colleges. It just pushes me more and gives me motivation to keep on going,” said Smith.
Journey through Basketball
Since he was four years old, Smith has been working tirelessly to be in the position he is in now. Growing up a basketball fan, he always paid attention to the players and their strategies. Watching others play the game on TV helped him gain the love for basketball he has today.
“I have been inspired by many players who just made me fall in love with the game. I would say Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry are some of my favorite players,” said Smith.
In addition to Amador’s varsity basketball team, Smith also plays on Team Lillard’s prestigious 3SSB team. Team Lillard’s 3SSB team allows many young players, such as Smith, to gain exposure in front of college coaches and even media outlets while competing nationally.
“Lillard is very hardworking and [a] dedicated [team]. And that’s what I [was] since day one…Team Lillard definitely helped me build a lot of mental toughness and self discipline. It just pushes me to get better every day,” said Smith.
D1 Recruitment
The result of Smith’s diligent work ethic is seen in all of his D1 (the highest level of college athletics) offers. So far, he has received nine offers, which include UC Santa Barbara, San Jose State, and others. Offers are not something every player can easily get. Players must stand out from others in areas like skill, leadership, and discipline.
“The recruitment process usually starts with coaches going through something like an NCAA list, and they will come to watch your games. For instance, they will come and watch maybe five games, and if they like what they see, they’ll contact you. They start off building a relationship with you, and when the offer does come, it shows that they are highly interested in you, and it shows that you could fit their play style,” said Smith.
Outside Support
Coach Willis Gardner, known to players as Coach Wo, (pronounced Woo), makes sure his players are achieving their absolute best. Wo stresses the importance of putting in effort not only on the court, but off the court as well.
“A lot of people don’t know Jaylen works hard on and off the court – especially off the court. He’s either doing basketball or doing school and he puts a lot of time in on his body, his nutrition, his exercises and his training. That’s why he has all those offers. He does a lot of stuff behind the scenes that people don’t understand…[they don’t] realize how much he puts into it,” said Wo.
For Smith, basketball is not just a simple high school sport, but also a way for him to grow as a person and an athlete. As he continuously applies himself, Smith strives to be the best he can be while also improving his mind and body. Smith is grateful for the people who have endorsed him throughout his journey.
“I want to thank everybody who’s supported me. My family, coaches, and teammates, who push me to get better every day,” said Smith.
