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The long road to success - Rockhurst forward finds home after many stops

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Sports
Written by Charlie Redfield   
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 01:00
Alden Smith has traveled a long and winding road to success at Rockhurst University.
The 6-5, 200-pound basketball forward attended two junior colleges until finally arriving at Rockhurst from Kaskaskia (Ill.) Community College in 2007.
Smith is happy to be in one place for two years.
“It’s great,” he said, “because I understand the system a lot better as far as knowing plays and knowing how Coach (Bill O’Connor) wants it to be done. But also learning my teammates and knowing what it takes to fit in with them. Also, I am making friends around campus.”
Smith grew up in Atlanta and moved to Jacksonville, Ark., at the age of 12.
He played at Ranger Community College in Texas and then Kaskaskia in 2006-2007. He averaged 12.6 and 7.4 rebounds per contest at Kaskaskia.
Several schools recruited him out of Kaskaskia, but he decided on Rockhurst.
“At the time they contacted me, it was time to make a decision,” Smith said. “They offered me a scholarship and it was the closest to home and Coach told me that I had an opportunity to play if I earned my spot. It has worked out, so I’m thankful for that.”
What was the biggest adjustment coming from community college basketball to NCAA Division II basketball?
“I would say the pace of the game,” he said. “It’s so much faster and everyone is so much stronger than on the juco level.”
Smith played in 27 games last season, averaging 9.5 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per contest.
He has improved on those numbers this year. Spread over the first 18 games, he is averaging 14.7 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per contest. He is the second-leading scorer for the Hawks.
He ranks sixth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in rebounding, is tied for sixth in scoring, is eighth in blocked shots and ninth in minutes.
Smith earned the nod as the GLVC Player of the Week in December and made the Rock U Classic All-Tournament team.
“After my first year, I realized that I had to get stronger and faster to play well at this level,” he said. “Over the summer I tried to work at getting stronger and worked on my speed, as well as shooting more and working on my explosion and jumping.”
Smith is enjoying playing on the NCAA Division II level.
“It is tough,” he said. “There are so many players that either played D-I or could have played D-I. Basically every team you play on this level, you have to bring it the entire game.”
Smith got his start in basketball at an early age.
“I got started when I was about 6 years old,” he said. “My dad taught me the fundamentals and he coached me during little league. Basketball runs in our family. My uncles and my dad all played when they were younger.”
What have been the keys to his success at Rockhurst?
“I think it is my work ethic,” he said. “Every year during the off-season I tried hard to get better. It is my senior year. I’ve learned a lot over the years.”
Smith considers his long arms one of his strengths.
“I can post up a smaller guy if he is guarding me and take a bigger guy if he is guarding me.”
He is striving for consistency.
Smith is involved in sports administration, and because of his numerous transfers, will graduate at the end of the fall semester.

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