Amber Smith, Scholar/Athlete:
“Anything basketball related is easy for me... But outside of that, I don’t ever really crave to be the center of attention.”
by Marcinho Savant
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” This verse (Proverbs 3:5) is a central touchstone in the faith of a young woman well on her way to becoming a professional basketball player for a WNBA team.
Amber Smith, a Shreveport native, began shooting hoops in a recreational league in the sixth grade. In less than a year, she could see that she had talent, but needed more structure, proper coaching, and stronger peers--- in order to get the most from her new-found passion. Coach Jessica Gibson Eli saw talent, and Amber grew more skilled in her game.
By the tenth grade, young Miss Smith has already begun collecting scouting/scholarship letters of invitation from a dozen, or more, colleges, and universities. Among them: LSU, Alabama, Baylor, Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri (imbroglio notwithstanding), University of Houston, Northwestern State, Louisiana State, University of Louisiana: Lafayette, University of Louisiana: Monroe, South Alabama University, and many others. Tenth Grade!
An outstanding student-athlete at Loyola College Prep, she will graduate on time next year, and has chosen Missouri as her new alma mater. Mademoiselle can play. Amber’s stats averaged 20.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.2 blocks, per game, last season.
Of her visit, and tour of the Missouri campus, and selecting Mizzou, “Everyone I met were very friendly people, there was a nice atmosphere. I even got to meet the players, and they were very friendly--- especially for them to not even know me!” Amber felt that the university was even more interested in her, than some of the others.
Amber has always been an exceptional student, from grade school, earning solid 4.0s, and
high school where she makes a solid 3.8 GPA today. Now, onward to one of the most acclaimed athletic programs in the nation.
She notes that she hasn’t, yet, had occasion to require a tutor, and really doesn’t seek academic help from her family. Miss Smith seems a hard worker in every aspect of her seventeen years on the planet.
Amber Smith, a Shreveport native, began shooting hoops in a recreational league in the sixth grade. In less than a year, she could see that she had talent, but needed more structure, proper coaching, and stronger peers--- in order to get the most from her new-found passion. Coach Jessica Gibson Eli saw talent, and Amber grew more skilled in her game.
By the tenth grade, young Miss Smith has already begun collecting scouting/scholarship letters of invitation from a dozen, or more, colleges, and universities. Among them: LSU, Alabama, Baylor, Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri (imbroglio notwithstanding), University of Houston, Northwestern State, Louisiana State, University of Louisiana: Lafayette, University of Louisiana: Monroe, South Alabama University, and many others. Tenth Grade!
An outstanding student-athlete at Loyola College Prep, she will graduate on time next year, and has chosen Missouri as her new alma mater. Mademoiselle can play. Amber’s stats averaged 20.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.2 blocks, per game, last season.
Of her visit, and tour of the Missouri campus, and selecting Mizzou, “Everyone I met were very friendly people, there was a nice atmosphere. I even got to meet the players, and they were very friendly--- especially for them to not even know me!” Amber felt that the university was even more interested in her, than some of the others.
Amber has always been an exceptional student, from grade school, earning solid 4.0s, and
high school where she makes a solid 3.8 GPA today. Now, onward to one of the most acclaimed athletic programs in the nation.
She notes that she hasn’t, yet, had occasion to require a tutor, and really doesn’t seek academic help from her family. Miss Smith seems a hard worker in every aspect of her seventeen years on the planet.
Everyone I met were very friendly people, there was a nice atmosphere. I even got to meet the players, and they were very friendly--- especially for them to not even know me!”
She’s leaving home for university, out of state. Mother seems to be managing well. “I’m Mom‘s baby girl, I’m always with her and I know her better than my siblings. I always know what she’s thinking. She has said, maybe jokingly, that she would find a home in Columbia to be nearer to me on campus.
“She’s a strong personality figure in my life. She encouraged me to leave home and experience more of the country, to get used to it, for when, and if I become a professional. If ever she did move to be near me, my father would be there too. Wherever she goes, he goes.” They are a team.
“Basketball, along with education is the way out. Most people play just to play. I have a purpose. I want to go where I can go play... somewhere get lots of playing time. I’m grateful that my parents are encouraging me to leave the nest. They say I can come home to visit--- any time I want to”, Amber advised. James and Tammy Smith have clearly endowed Amber with every tool she’ll need to face the world, inclusive of a safe, and supportive, place to call home, in the big, bad, world.
All is in readiness for Amber’s attending “Mizzou”, and her plan of action is to finish her college years first, and get her degree. She also wouldn’t mind signing with the league ASAP, and getting approval to work on her degree while she was playing pro ball. A grounded young woman, with soaring dreams, Amber plans to major in Biology... and becoming an orthopedic surgeon first. If pro sports doesn’t work out, Amber would enter sports medicine. She has always dreamed of playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, or the Minnesota Lynx.
In some ways, a typical teenager, Amber likes to spend time with her friends, and church family, and going to the movies. Unlike sister Amy, Amber hates dancing, and at a party is likely to be the one on the periphery, observing and taking it all in. Conversely, however, she considers her strongest trait to be her “friendliness”. “I may not know you--- but I will try to get to know you before you get to know me”, she explained. A shy extrovert, Amber seems fully prepared for the spotlight. “Anything basketball related is easy for me... But outside of that, I don’t ever really crave to be the center of attention”, she said. She says her weakest trait, is anxiety during public speaking.
Amber also loves to sing. This works out well for the young lady who is deeply immersed in an unflappable relationship with her faith. She has four siblings (21 to 13 years of age), between which she finds herself the middle child. They are: Ashley (21), Amy (18), Alex (15), Adam (13). Please see the story on our website ( http://sunweeklynews.com) under “Shreveport Young People”, near the bottom of the website home page, to see photos.
She easily gives credit to sister, Amy, and brother Alex, as the best singers in the family. Her father is a pastor at Midway Baptist Church, # 2, and he and Amber’s mom have been certain and faithful in educating their children to know and love the Lord.
Amber’s parents have taken parenting to a new high. Five great kids, and a focus of care, and support, that have produced some remarkable human beings. Amber is very close to her sister Amy, and family harmony seems to be the rule, not the exception.
The family all sing together too! “We have multiple genres we sing from, including ‘90s to old gospel, recent gospel, contemporary gospel, some hip-hop... We’re very diverse with our music. We even sing some country once in a while.”
“She’s a strong personality figure in my life. She encouraged me to leave home and experience more of the country, to get used to it, for when, and if I become a professional. If ever she did move to be near me, my father would be there too. Wherever she goes, he goes.” They are a team.
“Basketball, along with education is the way out. Most people play just to play. I have a purpose. I want to go where I can go play... somewhere get lots of playing time. I’m grateful that my parents are encouraging me to leave the nest. They say I can come home to visit--- any time I want to”, Amber advised. James and Tammy Smith have clearly endowed Amber with every tool she’ll need to face the world, inclusive of a safe, and supportive, place to call home, in the big, bad, world.
All is in readiness for Amber’s attending “Mizzou”, and her plan of action is to finish her college years first, and get her degree. She also wouldn’t mind signing with the league ASAP, and getting approval to work on her degree while she was playing pro ball. A grounded young woman, with soaring dreams, Amber plans to major in Biology... and becoming an orthopedic surgeon first. If pro sports doesn’t work out, Amber would enter sports medicine. She has always dreamed of playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, or the Minnesota Lynx.
In some ways, a typical teenager, Amber likes to spend time with her friends, and church family, and going to the movies. Unlike sister Amy, Amber hates dancing, and at a party is likely to be the one on the periphery, observing and taking it all in. Conversely, however, she considers her strongest trait to be her “friendliness”. “I may not know you--- but I will try to get to know you before you get to know me”, she explained. A shy extrovert, Amber seems fully prepared for the spotlight. “Anything basketball related is easy for me... But outside of that, I don’t ever really crave to be the center of attention”, she said. She says her weakest trait, is anxiety during public speaking.
Amber also loves to sing. This works out well for the young lady who is deeply immersed in an unflappable relationship with her faith. She has four siblings (21 to 13 years of age), between which she finds herself the middle child. They are: Ashley (21), Amy (18), Alex (15), Adam (13). Please see the story on our website ( http://sunweeklynews.com) under “Shreveport Young People”, near the bottom of the website home page, to see photos.
She easily gives credit to sister, Amy, and brother Alex, as the best singers in the family. Her father is a pastor at Midway Baptist Church, # 2, and he and Amber’s mom have been certain and faithful in educating their children to know and love the Lord.
Amber’s parents have taken parenting to a new high. Five great kids, and a focus of care, and support, that have produced some remarkable human beings. Amber is very close to her sister Amy, and family harmony seems to be the rule, not the exception.
The family all sing together too! “We have multiple genres we sing from, including ‘90s to old gospel, recent gospel, contemporary gospel, some hip-hop... We’re very diverse with our music. We even sing some country once in a while.”
“Basketball, along with education is the way out. Most people play just to play. I have a purpose. I want to go where I can go play... somewhere get lots of playing time. I’m grateful that my parents are encouraging me to leave the nest. They say I can come home to visit--- any time I want to”
Despite, or perhaps because of her religious upbringing, Amber accepts that not everybody goes to church. “I’m grateful that I have both of my parents together raising us. They taught, and instilled, God into me, and so--- in all I do keep Him first. He is always present--- even when not present. Most of my friends are religious, some are not... I try to keep them on the path that God is there for you if you need him. Sometimes I invite them to come to experience church with me.”
Mom and dad are nothing if not impossibly committed to raising Amber properly, enabling her to be a strong, independent, diligent, motivated young woman who knows how to chase a dream. She is secure in dreaming because she knows that her faith in God, and her ever-present, supportive parents, she will always be just fine. “I feel confident going for it because I know that with my family, even if I fail, I can always come home, get centered, regroup, and maybe even try again at some point.”
Amber Smith’s favorite verse goes on to say, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight”. In Amber’s case, they are paths straight to a bright and blessed future.
Mom and dad are nothing if not impossibly committed to raising Amber properly, enabling her to be a strong, independent, diligent, motivated young woman who knows how to chase a dream. She is secure in dreaming because she knows that her faith in God, and her ever-present, supportive parents, she will always be just fine. “I feel confident going for it because I know that with my family, even if I fail, I can always come home, get centered, regroup, and maybe even try again at some point.”
Amber Smith’s favorite verse goes on to say, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight”. In Amber’s case, they are paths straight to a bright and blessed future.
Amber is one of the thousands of scintillating stars of our community. There are so many we have yet to meet. This is the reason for our Shreveport Young People features. There are so many stars remaining to be seen.