Friends’ Central’s Madison Smith is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The freshman guard/forward is averaging 14 points and 13 rebounds per game, and has posted six consecutive double-doubles for the Phoenix (9-3 as of Dec. 31). Friends’ Central girls’ basketball head coach Phil Annas said, “Madison is the type of player that only comes around once in a while. Her passion, enthusiasm and love for the game are unparalleled. Her competitive nature, fueled by her internal drive to improve, ensures that nobody is going to outwork her on the court. Madison is a huge contributor on both ends of the court, especially on the glass.” Off the basketball court, Smith is involved in a different type of court at Friends’ Central – the Mock Trial club, in which student are prepared to play the role of a witness or lawyer.
Q: What do you think has been the key to your performance so far this season?
A: Staying focused throughout the game, not just being focused but being calm, cool and collected so my game is not thrown off by anger or such emotion.
Q: What has been the biggest key to your effective rebounding?
A: The key for me is boxing out and finding the ball before it hits the ground. Once I box out the player out of the play, it’s much easier because no one is guarding me.
Q: What area of your game do you feel you improved the most in the off-season?
A: My dribbling, shooting and staying calm in tough games.
Q: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: The strongest aspect of my game is rebounding and driving. The part of my game I’m currently working on the most is my dribbling, shooting and finishing with touch around the basket.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: I usually listen to music and get some shots off on a free court.
Q: Who is your favorite basketball player, and why?
A: I have two, KD [Kevin Durant] and Kyrie [Irving]. They’re great examples on what I need to improve to my game, so I look and watch them both. KD is an awesome shooter and knows how to create his own space to get his shot off. Kyrie has tenacious handles and he knows how to finish around the basket with touch.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 1 for Friends’ Central. Why did you pick this number – does it have any special significance to you?
A: I originally wanted No. 13 in honor of my uncle, who passed away at the age of 13. Since my school didn’t have 13, I took No. 1 because he was No. 1 in my eyes and I know I was No. 1 in his. So I will always be wearing No. 1 for someone I love, while playing something I love.
Q: What is your favorite academic subject at school? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite academic subject is my Integrated Physics Class. I want to be a lawyer, but I’m not sure what kind of lawyer at this time.
Fun facts – Madison Smith
Favorite book: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.
Favorite TV show: Walking Dead.
Favorite movie: The Fault in our Stars.
Favorite athlete: “My mom – she played for St. Maria Goretti from 1994-1998, then played for Penn State Delco Brandywine, where her team won its UCAA division conference with a 25-1 record.”
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Best Friend by Casanova.
Favorite pre-game meal: Chipotle Burrito.
Person I most admire, and why: “My mother and father. No matter what is brought upon my mom’s path she always finds a way to push past or find a way through it. She never runs away from her problems but faces them head on. She’s everything that I want to be: a strong black woman. Not just a strong black woman but a superhero – my superhero and in my eyes the best superhero. My Dad is my hype man and the person who gets me angry. I admire him in too many ways to count, particularly his intelligence and his personality – especially his personality. He knows how to brighten up dark times with his jokes which I love!”
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
