“I want you to go out there tonight and be the best #42 on the floor.” So was the challenge issued Senior co-captain Kevin Smith prior to the CovCath game back on February 22nd, 2005 by the Mustangs coaching staff – AND HE WAS.
#42 on the floor that night was worn by Covington Catholic’s Mr. Basketball candidate, Division One Penn signee, Brennen Votel.
Smitty led all scorers in the game, putting up fifteen points in the battle for the consensus Number One ranking in all of Northern Kentucky while playing relentless defense and turning in perhaps his best all-around basketball game while wearing a Brossart uniform, leading his Mustangs to a 68-52 thumping of the 9th Region kingpins. Yet again, Kevin Smith had shown his best stuff in blue-chip time.
It was Smitty’s defensive efforts in big games vs Mason County over the past few years where he guarded Mr. Basketball Chris Lofton that motivated Mason County Head Coach Kelly Wells to tab the lanky Mustang as a great college prospect and recruit the 6’6″ guard/forward to Hawaii Pacific University when Wells took an assistants job there this season.
Kevin Smith received a rude welcome to high school basketball, breaking his wrist while playing in his first game in a a Junior Varsity game vs Covington Catholic. Sleek as a thoroughbred racehorse with the athletic ability of a deer effortlessly jumping a fence, Smitty has paid for his athletic abilities and streamlined frame by spending time on the disabled list off and on throughout his career – always bouncing back and playing better/stronger/harder after each setback. His most recent time-lost injury befell him on Thursday night, December 16th of his senior season when he strained some ligament/tendons in his lower right leg, sitting the Mustangs co-captain for nearly a month before re-joining the team vs Erlanger Lloyd on January 13th of 2005.. Smith managed to compete in 18 of the Mustangs 24 games that season finishing the season as our third-leading scorer behind Evan McDole and Jason Cooper. Smitty put 160 points on the board, averaging 8.9ppg, and led the team from behind the arc, hitting on 21 of 53 three-point shot attempts for an impressive 40% connection rate. At th time of his graduation Kevin was the 36th leading career scorer in the history of Brossart all-time scorers.
Kevin Smith was the first-ever Brossart Mustangs Basketball Player to be signed to a four year full-ride scholarship at a NCAA Division II program. Smith Signed To Play His College Career at Hawaii-Pacific University.
Kevin's Four Year Composite Varsity Stats
Games – 87
2Pt Field Goals-170-364-46.7%
3Pt Field Goals- 44-130-34%
TL Field Goals-214-494-43.3%
Free Throws – 139-215-64.6%
Points – 611 – 7.0ppg
Rebounds – 360 – 4.2rpg
Blocks – 60
Assists – 144
Steals – 165
Senior Year Awards
- ICN-6: Player of the Year
- Honorable Mention: All-State
- Enquirer First Team: All-Region
- NKAC Division II: All-Conference
- NKAC Division II: Defensive Player Of The Year
- 10th Region: All “A” All-Tournament
- 38th District: All-Tournament Team
- Blue Chip: 3 Point Shootout Runner-Up
- 10th Region: All-Region, Honorable Mention
- Received a Four Year Full-Ride Scholarship To NCAA Division II Hawaii-Pacific University
Kevin Smith completed his freshman year at Hawaii Pacific University where he played in 23 games, averaging 5.5 minutes per game. He scored 42 points and shot 46.8% from beyond the arc (6-13).
Kevin chose not to return to Hawaii-Pacific for his sophomore season, and although offered various playing opportunities here in the states, chose to forego the remainder of his college career, joining the family business.
Junior Year Awards
- Hecks NoKy MVP
- 10th Region All “A”
- All Tournament
- All “A” State Tournament
All-Tournament - Blue-Chip Slam-Dunk
Champion
Sophomore Year Awards
- 10th All “A” All Tournament
On February 10th, 2004, Mason
County, then ranked 2nd in the State,
played Brossart, ranked 16th, at the
Campbell County Middle School.
Louisville Coach Rick Pitino was in
attendance to watch Chris Lofton.
Kevin Smith had the defensive
assignment on Lofton that night, and
his length caused the Mason County
star some problems. Lofton was held to
12 points that night.
Those of us close to the Brossart
program are convinced that Pitino
thought that Lofton (6’1″ – 180lbs) would
have trouble competing against the
bigger, more physical Division I players
at Louisville based on his production vs
the Brossart defender, and passed on
recruiting him.
Lofton went on to Tennessee, where
he generated questions as those asked
in the published article above. At
Tennessee, Lofton was All-American all
four years and in his junior season was
named the SEC Player of the Year.
