Dec. 14, 2004
During her standout basketball career at Butler High School, Jessica Smith didn't experience a whole lot of losing. And she never suffered through an injury that kept her out of action for an extended period.
But now that she is a sophomore at Stony Brook University, the 2003 Herald News Player of the Year has had to endure both within a short period of time.
Smith, 19, missed all of this year's preseason due to a painful left knee injury. She returned to her starting center position for the start of the regular season, but the Seawolves (1-5) have dropped five of their first six games, including a tough 79-76 loss at St. Bonaventure on Saturday night.
Still, the 6-foot Smith is doing her best to help the team win. She scored a team-high 20 points against the Bonnies, and is second on the team in scoring and third in the America East Conference at 16.5 points per game.
She is also second on the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg). Sophomore guard Mykeema Ford of Trenton leads the Seawolves in scoring (16.7 ppg).
In Stony Brook's previous game, a 69-62 victory over Providence, Smith set a school record by going a perfect 11-for-11 from the field and finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds.
"One thing I like about her is she's very, very aggressive," first-year head coach Maura McHugh said of Smith during a recent phone interview. "She plays really, really hard. She always plays at a very high level. She's been hurt the whole preseason. A time when you could've spent a lot of time working with her, she was completely out."
The day after Smith returned to Stony Brook this fall, she went up for a jump shot in a pickup game and felt tremendous pain in her knee. It turned out to be a microscopic fracture in the kneecap, which kept her out for six weeks.
"It's one of those injuries where I have to have a high pain tolerance," she said. "It's not going to go way. I take a few painkillers, ice it. Some days it's good, some days it's really bad."
Smith never missed any significant time at Butler. During her senior year, she led the Bulldogs to the Group 1 state championship and an appearance in the Tournament of Champions. She was named All-State, had her jersey retired by the high school and became the first female athlete ever to earn Herald News Player of the Year honors in two sports in one year.
After choosing Stony Brook because she wanted to major in physical therapy and play ball, Smith started all 28 games as a freshman. She was second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and tops in rebounding (9.0 rpg), earning America East Rookie of the Year and third team all-conference honors. The Seawolves finished 7-21.
On top of the injury, Smith had to adjust this season to a new coach.
McHugh, who previously coached the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA, took over for the departed Trish Roberts.
"She's an amazing coach," Smith said. "Everyone loves playing for her.
Everyone has so much heart out here. She knows the game."
McHugh has implemented a new system, but because Smith missed the preseason she is still picking things up as she goes along.
"Jess is an undersized post but she brings a lot to the table," McHugh said.
"She can do a lot of moves, but we've want to get her to use them in games.
Early in the preseason, we played a lot of big players, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6. She's has to play a different type of game. She's really adapted well. She picks up everything so quickly. She's so smart, she really understands."
Smith felt a little overwhelmed during her freshman year, and called herself a "mental case" at the foul line. Now, despite the injury, she feels more comfortable. After shooting just 59 percent from the foul line last year, Smith has converted 79 percent this season "I feel so much more confident out there," Smith said "I think I play with a lot more composure. I'm still getting myself in foul trouble, which is not the smartest thing."
As for the losing, Smith never wants to get used to that "I think that our early season schedule is pretty difficult and that we're going to be really ready for our conference," she said. "'Keema is back and she's 100 percent this year and Kelly (Watson) is doing awesome. We're having other role players getting playing time."
This week has also been stressful because of final exams. Smith had a classical mythology exam on Monday and faces chemistry today.
"That's killing me," she joked.
Down the road, Smith hopes to possibly have a shot at the WNBA, but McHugh points out that she would have to become a wing player in the pros because of her size.
"I think it's in the back of everybody's mind," Smith said. "That's probably everybody's dream to go and do that. But right now I'm just thinking about this season."
