Coach Describes Sophomore Guard as ‘Model Student Athlete’
College of Southern Maryland (CSM) basketball player Juwan Smith of Lexington Park is being honored for his outstanding play with the Hawks this year. The sophomore starting point guard was named Second Team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II All American, Second Team All-Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO), and First Team NJCAA Region XX.
“Juwan is a model student athlete,” said Men’s Basketball Head Coach Alan Hoyt. “He works hard in the classroom and on the court. His willingness to be coached and effort in all areas have led to his individual success and our team success.”
Smith, who graduated from St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, transferred to CSM this year from University of Mount Olive. He is majoring in cybersecurity at CSM and is on pace to graduate this semester.
At the beginning of this season, Hoyt had noted that Smith would be a player to watch. Smith lived up to those expectations, racking up impressive stats for the Hawks, with an average of 20.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 82 steals and 4.4 assists per game. In addition, he sunk 98 three-pointers during the season.
Smith’s play was critical to the Hawks’ year, as he led the team back to the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Illinois, and helped the Hawks to their first national tournament game win at that tournament, Hoyt said.
“The national tournament was a great experience, and the atmosphere was very inspiring,” Smith said. “I loved everything about nationals, all the way down to the milkshakes at Steak and Shake. Hopefully the guys can make their way back down to Danville next season, because there’s nothing like it.”
Smith hasn’t decided yet what he will do once he graduates from CSM. It is likely, however, that more basketball is in his future. He already has half a dozen scholarship offers to play at four-year colleges.
For information about the CSM Men’s Basketball team, the 2017-18 schedule and complete roster, visit http://athletics.csmd.edu/sports/mbkb/index.