SUPER SENIOR: Subdued Smith is Quiet Leader

Tyler Smith, a senior at Fallston, has been playing basketball as long as he can remember.

“[I’ve] always been holding a basketball in my hand,” he says.

Cougars head coach Mark Hannahs says Smith has a natural talent thanks to "a family of good athletes.” At first, it doesn’t seem like Smith is enthusiastic about basketball because “he’s laid back,” as his coach describes him. But no one should mistake his calm nature for lack of interest.

“He doesn’t need to talk a good game because everyone knows who he is,” Hannahs says.

Averaging 19.9 points per game, Smith is Harford County's top scorer this year, and just 80 points shy of 1,000 for his career.

When Fallston’s practice ends, Smith says he usually heads back to the gym to keep shooting if he does not have something with his AAU team.

“He does really work on his game continuously,” Hannahs says. 

Smith, also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America at school, says he does not have time to do many other things. “I had a job but I quit when basketball started,” he says.

“He is, fundamentally, the most sound [player] in Harford County,” Hannahs says. “He makes everyone else around him better.” 

Smith has a way of motivating the other players.

“He is a leader. He leads by example,” the coach says. “He’s not full of himself, but when it gets game time, he’s ready to go.”

Hannahs chuckles about the times he is approached after games about Smith. He remembers one coach saying, “'What you have that we don’t have is a go-to-guy when we need one.'”

Adds Hannahs: “If you watch him play, you’ll know he’s the best player on the court.” 

The senior wants to play in college, he just does not know where. Afterward, he aspires to play professionally, but realizes it will be a lot of work and that he may end up going overseas.

Smith could not seem less intimidated by playing at the next level. For him it is just something he is passionate about. In his calm and composed tone he simply says, “I love it.”

Super Senior is a weekly feature that takes a look inside the life a successful senior student-athlete. E-mail Brad@Patch.com with future suggestions and questions.