Most basketball teams usually have one or two star players and a host of role players. But when one of the top players goes down due to injury, someone has to be there to step up and fill in the gap. That is where Cypress Springs guard Jon Smith comes in.

In a crucial 69-64 win over Cy-Fair in a District 17-5A game, Smith scored the game-winning free throws en route to a 19-point performance to earn this week’s College Ball or Bust.com Athlete of the Week.

Smith’s contributions to the team have evolved since the start of his senior season. Starting off he was more of a role player with teammates Phillip McDonald and Erik Williams being the two primary scorers. But since the Panthers have lost Williams to injury, Smith has had to play a more integral role on the team.

“It (Smith’s game play) has changed it a lot because usually I score 10 points and call it a day,” Smith said. “When Erik was there, he would be there to rebound everything, but since he is out I have to be an all-around player. I have to be way more aggressive on offense now.”

And that he has done. Now what used to be 10 points a game is more like 14. But the changes have been full circle. Not only is he scoring more, but also creating more scores due to hard-nosed defense.

This is an area of his game that was already there, but Smith has taken it to another level as well adding the rebounding factor. And though his teammate McDonald is strong in the rotation, he too has played in a different capacity.

“Really coach wants me to be a defensive player, but also wants me to be aggressive on rebounds,” Smith said. “Since we lost our starting big man (Williams), we have to pick up where he left off. We have great guards, but we all know that Philip can’t do it by himself. We noticed that when we lost to Cy Woods a few weeks ago by us not helping him rebound, we take losses like that.”

The transition has not been as smooth as he would have liked it to be in taking on a more primary role, but he takes it in stride. Through district play, Smith has built up a stronger level of confidence. 

“I see now that I am the leader of the team and I have to step up and make more plays,” Smith said. “Coaches tell me to go out there and have fun just play my game and don’t let anyone tell me what I can’t do.”

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