H.S. BOYS' BBALL: Carroll Acad's Smith putting up the points

HUNTINGDON – Maurice Smith wears the No. 20 for the Carroll Academy boys' basketball team, and four times this season, Smith has surpassed that mark in points during a game.

Smith, a sophomore for the Jaguars, has become a scoring machine, and he has helped Carroll Academy to pick up two wins in the first month of the season.

"It is just playing ball and keeping it under control," Smith said. "LeBron James is my favorite basketball player. I watch him every day in the morning before I have a game. I just think about situations he will be in.

"Of course, my coach, Coach Brian [McDowell] has helped me. When I want to quit, he calls timeout and keeps me going. My teammates look up to me, and I have leadership on the court."

The early success has surprised Smith as he didn't think that he would be scoring like he has.

"I didn't think I would be doing all of the scoring that I am," Smith said. "20 points a game is good."

Carroll Academy boys' basketball coach Brian McDowell is impressed with Smith's consistent play.

"He brings good leadership to the team," McDowell said. "I can depend on him to carry out what I want. I am an emotional coach, and he feeds off of me. If I get down, Maurice will get down, and then the team will follow. He is my captain, and I tell him 'This is your team to lead.'"

The Jaguars won three games last season, and they are looking to improve on that record this season. Carroll Academy has been competitive in multiple games this year that the team did not win.

"I wouldn't say that it is all because of me," Smith said. "If I start to give up, they do to. If I keep pushing, they keep pushing, also."

McDowell said that Smith's play in recent weeks has improved and that is how the team is winning.

"He played well last week," McDowell said. "He is playing a solid three to four quarters, not just one."

As much of a star as Smith has been on the basketball court this season, he has another sport that he might be a little more passionate about.

"I have been playing football all of my life," Smith said. "This is the only year that I have not played football. Football is my sport. I am a running back like Barry Sanders. That is who I look up to."

Smith lives in Milan and wants the chance to wear the Bulldog purple next year.

"Playing football is a motivation factor for me," Smith said. "Football is my love more than basketball. I have a love for basketball, and that love has grown this year."

When asked about the goals for the Jaguars in the coming months, Smith didn't talk about wins.

"We want to play together and have good sportsmanship," he said. "We might not win every game, but we want when the game is over be ready to play the next one."

Michael Odom, 425-9754