Lexi Smith may be missing part of arm, but she doesn鈥檛 let it define her on the court
PRINCETON, Ind. (BVM) 鈥� A sophomore earning the starting point guard role on any high school basketball team is impressive. This winter, Lexi Smith earned that title at Princeton Community High School.
Smith has excelled as a starter, leading her team in both assists and steals. From afar, you probably wouldn鈥檛 notice anything different about the point guard. But what makes her story all the more impressive is Smith鈥檚 performance and talent despite missing the lower portion of her right arm.
Smith was born with amniotic band syndrome, stunting the growth of her right arm. Of course, this would create some challenges for anyone. But for Smith, it has never stopped her from doing anything she wanted to.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there was ever really a time where I was like, 鈥極h, I鈥檓 different from other people,鈥欌�� Smith noted. 鈥淚 just decided to go out and try my best at everything and not let it hold me back. I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 really anything that I couldn鈥檛 do or I can鈥檛 do. Whatever I try doing I just try my best at.鈥�
鈥淢e and her dad, we never allowed the word 鈥榗an鈥檛鈥� to come out of her mouth,鈥� Lexi鈥檚 mother Brandi said. 鈥淚 knew she was going to have to work harder than others to get to where she wanted to be.鈥�
Willing to try anything and everything, Lexi took up multiple sports in her youth, including soccer, track and field, cross country, and of course, basketball, each of which she still plays today.
At Princeton, Lexi became a varsity starter on the soccer pitch right away as a freshman. Meanwhile, she has already gone to state for track and cross country as a Tiger.
鈥淭hat was so fun,鈥� Lexi mentioned. 鈥淭hat was one of my favorite memories.鈥�
Lexi competes in the 4×400-meter and 4×800-meter relays, as well as the 800-meter and high jump events. In the 800-meter, Lexi is currently just a second off of the school record, something she will look to set by the time her career at Princeton is done.
Already excelling on the track and the pitch, Lexi of course has found her home on the hardwood as well. That began in fifth grade when she decided to try out for her school鈥檚 team after watching her brother play.
鈥淢y brother plays it and I would go out there and shoot with him,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淥ne day I just wanted to go out and try out for the team, so I tried out to just see if I would make it, and I made it. I鈥檝e just been going from there, working hard and getting better everyday.鈥�
Through the years, the point guard turned into a good ball-handler, a strong passer and an aggressive defender. Of course, there are still some challenges, such as defenses forcing her to go right when she can only dribble left, but Lexi has always found a way on the hardwood as well.
鈥淪ome teams will push me right and I just have to do a move to get back to the left side,鈥� Lexi explained. 鈥淚 have a couple of moves that I do 鈥� I can get back to the left side really easily.鈥�
Lexi鈥檚 quickness and agility allows her to still get past defenders, leading to her averaging around eight points per game. Earlier this season, she also put up an impressive 18-point performance. Whether it鈥檚 basketball or anything else, Lexi doesn’t let having to do some things differently define her, and goes into anything she does trying to do it at the highest level.
鈥淚 just try to not let anything hold me back,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 go into it thinking that I鈥檓 different from anybody else. I just see it as I鈥檓 the same.鈥�
The 15-year-old is no different than many of her peers, and in fact, she excels even more than most outside of sports. Currently, Lexi holds a 4.0 GPA as an honors student. She is involved with plenty of extracurriculars as well including 4H club, future Christian athlete club and national honor society.
It鈥檚 been a remarkable progression and story for Lexi already, something which her family is very proud of.
鈥淚 knew she was amazing, I knew God made her special, but she has just blown our minds every year,鈥� Brandi said. 鈥淪he has just excelled each year and she works harder and harder everyday. She is incredible.鈥�
Meanwhile, the family support Lexi has received over the years has meant everything to her, and is a big reason for why she is where she鈥檚 at today.
鈥淚 really appreciate it,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淭hey help me a lot. My parents, they鈥檝e pushed me really hard and they practice with me a lot. My brother, he always wanted to play me in basketball. My grandparents would go out and shoot with me some. I think everyone just pushed me and helped me through everything.鈥�
Lexi first realized her true talent in basketball in eighth grade. After a freshman season on junior varsity where she also dressed for varsity almost every game, Lexi has now had her chance as a starter. When she learned she earned the role before the season, it was a moment of accomplishment for the sophomore.
鈥淚 was really proud and I worked really hard,鈥� Lexi said.聽
With Lexi running the show, the Lady Tigers have seen plenty of success which they hope to continue throughout the rest of the season. Lexi also hopes the improvement continues throughout the remainder of her Princeton career.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing pretty good right now,鈥� Lexi added. 鈥淚 just want to get more points and be more aggressive on the offensive side. I think if I can do it, anybody can do it.鈥�
Of course, when people think about Princeton basketball, one name that immediately comes to mind is Jackie Young. The former Notre Dame standout who is now a WNBA star with the Las Vegas Aces and a gold medal winner, Young had a star-studded career at Princeton that saw her win a state title and finish as the state鈥檚 all-time points leader. She has become a true inspiration for many such as Lexi.
At the same time, the 15-year-old has also admired some other athletes that had to overcome challenges including Jim Abbott 鈥� who pitched 10 seasons in the MLB despite being born without a right hand 鈥� and Bethany Hamilton who had her arm bit off by a shark but continued to pursue an eventual pro surfing career.
鈥淛ackie really is an inspiration,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淪o is Jim Abbott, I really look up to him.鈥�
Once her high school season is finished, Lexi will look towards the spring track season and then onto the summer where she plans to play AAU basketball for the second straight year. Last summer, Lexi tried out and made the team with Ambition Basketball in Indiana, a great feat, but also a great experience.
鈥淚 played on a travel team during the summer 鈥� it really helped me,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淚 really loved the girls and it was a great experience.鈥�
鈥淪he tried out for this travel team and then she not only made it, but she became a starter,鈥� Brandi added. 鈥淚t was a really big accomplishment and that helped her incredibly going into her sophomore year. She learned so much.鈥�
Not only has the AAU experience helped her high school career, but Lexi also hopes it could lead her to an opportunity to play in college. Whether it be basketball or even track, the four-sport athlete would like to continue her athletic career in some capacity at the next level.
鈥淚f I got a scholarship to go play basketball somewhere, I would go do that,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淚鈥檇 also like to run in college, I really love track.鈥�
One consideration already for Lexi is staying in state and attending Indiana University in a few years.
No matter where Lexi鈥檚 future takes her, there is no doubt it is bright. Her tremendous story of perseverance and courage is one that has already made so many proud, but will also continue to inspire as the next chapters are written.
鈥淪he is going to keep going,鈥� Brandi said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no end in sight for her 鈥� I think she鈥檚 going to have a lot of opportunities. She just works so hard and she鈥檚 never going to quit working hard. She鈥檚 just very special, very gifted.鈥�
鈥淚 hope everybody sees that if someone with one hand can do it, they can do it too,鈥� Lexi said. 鈥淚 just hope to inspire a lot of people with my story and just let them know that you can do anything that you put your mind to.鈥�
