In a senior class loaded with talented players, it was easy to overlook Carroll Academy’s Austin Smith.
But ask any coach at Carroll Academy and they all say the same thing about the senior — great player and a better kid.
Smith was a three-sport standout at Carroll Academy and one of an outstanding class of seniors.
Smith was a starter on the basketball team that finished second in the Class 3A state tournament and made the MAIS Overall Tournament. Coach Tommy Acy had nothing but praise for Smith.
“He’s a great player and a great kid,” Acy said. “I called him preacher because he didn’t get into any stuff and was very involved in church. He’s a yes sir, no sir kind of kid and worked as hard as any kid in the school.”
Acy said Smith’s work ethic turned him into a starter where he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists a game for the Rebels, playing opposite of All-MAIS player Reese Fulton.
“He was the kid that stayed in the gym a lot and would stay extra and shoot and work on his game,” Acy said. “He was always working on his game and doing things to get better. He was going to the workouts and working to get better. He’s one of those kids that tried hard all the time, in practice, in the game or in the weight room.”
In football, Smith was a two-year starter for Coach Bo Milton on the offensive line and was named the MAIS all-star game. Milton was one of the head coaches but Winona Christian coach Junior Graham grabbed up Smith before Milton could take him.
Milton echoed Acy’s thoughts on Smith.
“He was a yes sir, no sir kind of kid and does whatever you asked him to do,” Milton said. “He has come a long way over the last five years since I have been here to make himself into an athlete. He has just worked hard at it and it has paid off for him.”
Milton said Smith, who is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, could have played college football.
“He is a very athletic kid,” Milton said. “He played weak side tackle and defensive end in our three-man front. He was a really good run blocker. He certainly had the ability to go play at the next level. Belhaven was really interested in him so he was good enough to go play at the next level. I think the opportunity was there if he wanted it.”
Smith was also on the Carroll track team where he threw the shot-put and discus. Last year, Smith finished fifth in the state in the shot-put with a distance of 40 feet and five inches.
