Before coach Brad Underwood and his success with the Stephen F Austin State University men's basketball team, coach Danny Kaspar enlisted a 6 foot 6 center/forward from Schertz, Texas. This player was Taylor Smith.
Smith attended Clemens High School and McLennan Community College before transferring to SFA in 2011. At the high school and community college level, Smith was earning awards and building his basketball experience. Some of his achievements from Clemens include being an all-state honoree and having a 19-point average per game. These credentials continued in community college after Smith was awarded the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and two time NTJCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
When Smith transferred to SFA in 2011, he appeared in all 32 games during his first season and led the team with a 70.1 field goal percentage. During the 2012-2013 season, Smith gained recognition from the Southland Conference and brought the Lumberjacks one game away from entering the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.
Smith was the 2012-2013 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year with a 68.8 field goal percentage and he set a SFA record with 87 blocks for the season. Smith has 129 blocks in total for his two seasons. After making all these accomplishments, Smith went on to graduate from SFA in 2013.
In 2013, Smith also began his professional basketball career. The small-town Texas resident traveled over seas to play for the Greek Basket League, also known as the Greek Basketball League. This league consists of 14 clubs, or teams and like the NBA in America, the GBL has a regular season then clubs go on to the playoffs.
Smith started with the GBL for the 2013-2014 season and he plays during the 2014-2015 season as well. Like his college basketball experience, Smith is a defensive specialist. He has 35 blocks and a 65.9 field goal percentage.
The GBL is now in the 2014-2015 season until June.
By Roxanne Leila Morelos
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