WEST POINT — It had been two years since West Point boys basketball had a player sign to play at the next level, but that drought ended on Tuesday morning.
Green Wave senior forward MJ Smith signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, culminating a highly decorated high school career.
“It’s a blessing,” Smith said. “I look forward to playing basketball at the next level. It should be very interesting.”
Smith was one of two West Point players to reach the 1,000-point mark in their career along with Elijah Young this season.
He was selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game and averaged a double-double in his senior season with 12 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. He also averaged three blocks a game for the Green Wave.
“He definitely helped shape our program, put our program back on the map, and we’re excited to see him at the next level,” West Point head coach Marquis Burnett said. “He’s a versatile player, super athletic and can pretty much guard one through five.”
Smith is heading to a successful junior college program at Itawamba, a team that finished 21-5 last season, losing in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 23 tournament.
The 6-6 forward was an integral part for the Green Wave, who came up a win short of a 20-win season this past season, finishing 19-7 overall.
“The leadership part of him, he anchored our defense,” Burnett said. “He came to every game and he brought it. He’s definitely impacted our program.”
For as much as Smith is excited to get his college career started, a chapter in his basketball career has come to a close in high school.
While his high school career is now over, he now has the ability to represent West Point at the next level, something no boys basketball player has been able to do for the past few years.
“It means a lot,” Smith said. “… I’m going to miss my team. They’re my boys. We had a good time.”
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