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LIBERTY - Micah Smith will more than likely be outsized every time he gets in the post.
But it’s doubtful the Casey County senior center will run up against a better athlete than himself, and that’s what the 6-2, 175-pound Smith tries to use to his advantage while battling against players several inches taller and several pounds heavier than he is.
“Jumping, speed, anything I can use. I’m not as big as some of these guys, especially as a center. I try to use every advantage I can with my athleticism,” Smith said. “They’ll outweight me, they’ll out-height me on a nightly basis.”
But you won’t catch Smith complaining about banging down low against the tall timber.
“I love the challenge like that, going against somebody bigger and stronger than me,” he said. “I use it to outwork them. I just really like to work hard. That’s a big key to being successful.”
And it’s his other successful sport that Smith credits for helping him be at his best on the basketball court. Smith is a successful track athlete for the Rebels. He won the region in high jump and pole vault last spring, and was seventh in the state in high jump and 10th in pole vault
“It gives me a lot of balance and coordination. I would recommend track to any player. It is a sport that builds up balance, coordination, speed, jumping ability,” he said. “You’re just doing stuff like that, so it’s going to make you better.”
Casey coach Darry Burkett said he is glad to have someone with Smith’s athleticism down low for his team.
“He is a very explosive athlete. This is a kid that won the region in high jump and pole vault, so he’s just all-around good athlete,” Burkett said. “He has been a good player for us all year. He’s been a good senior leader for us.
“He’s one of the beat athletes our school has seen in a number of years, and we’ve had some good athletes. He’s explosive and he’s got quickness.”
Casey is enjoying one of its best seasons in year. The Rebels are sitting at 12-15 and wrap up the regular season with games at McCreary Central today and at Lincoln County on Friday. Casey won just 10 games the previous two years combined and right now has the most wins since winning 12 games in the 2002-03 season.
Smith has few complaints about how his final year on the hardwood has gone.
“It’s been a great year. I really kind of came into my own this year. I’ve had a lot of good games,” he said. “And I really enjoy playing with these guys. I’ve been playing with the seniors for a long time now, and they’re all my friends.