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Smith excited to keep playing at Lincoln Trail
The word that both her high school coach and future college coach used to describe Gracie Smith was “competitor.”
The Greencastle senior recently signed her national letter-of-intent to attend Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill., and use her competitive nature to continue her basketball career.
Smith averaged 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game this year in helping the Tiger Cubs to a 13-10 record and a runner-up finish in the Western Indiana Conference.
“I choose LTC because it was the perfect distance from home,” Smith said. “Not too close, not too far. It is a two-year college, which means I have the option to move anywhere I want after figuring out what my future career is.”
Smith liked coach Scott Sparks and his staff, and is excited to join the Lady Statesman later this year.
“They said my role will be bringing a winning attitude to the team and scoring mentality,” she said. “I need to work on just my overall game, and to be physically be more ready and mentally ready to hit shots.”
Greencastle coach Bradley Key will miss having Smith on his squad next year, but sees a good future for her at the next level.
“Gracie Smith embodies everything we look for in a player at Greencastle High School,” he said. “In her four years with us she went from being just an athletic freshman all the way to being the captain of the basketball team her senior year.”
Key is thrilled that players from his program are able to move up to the college level.
“Through hard work and commitment to the team, Gracie developed into a super competitor and someone we knew we could count on to do anything we needed to win,” he said. “We are excited for Gracie to move on to the next level and continue to develop as a basketball player.”
Sparks’ team finished with an 8-17 record last season, shooting just 27.6 percent from 3-point range. He hopes that Smith and the rest of the 2017-18 recruiting class can help to change those numbers.
“We are extremely excited to have Gracie join our program,” he said. “One of the two big things I (we) have tried to build on here at Lincoln Trail is competitiveness and high character. Obviously we want kids that can compete and play basketball at our level, but these are the two big things we feel add up to success in the classroom and on the floor.”
Sparks said that after seeing Gracie play and getting to know her over the last few months, it was apparent to him that she has those qualities.
“We know she will fit in, but where exactly we are never sure until we get everyone back on campus in August and begin our preseason workouts and training,” he added. “She will have to compete every day and fight for playing time as will all the other kids on our roster. The ones who do that will play – simple as that.
“I have no doubt Gracie will ‘bring it,’” Sparks added. “That is what I like about her, she’s fiery. We will continue her development in scoring, shooting and toughness on defense.”
The Lady Statesmen compete in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference, which also includes Olney Central College and former teammate Nailah Ray.