Sport: Basketball
Year: Junior
Marion Smith was just another name on the Christ the King roster until just recently. Backing up Erving Walker will do that. He got his first taste a few weeks ago, when Coach Bob Oliva called him off the bench to make a few free throws down the stretch against Rice in a narrow victory.
Last Friday, he started against Archbishop Molloy because two of the regulars – Sean Johnson and Anthony Martin – were sick. He made the most of his opportunity, scoring 10 points and limiting the Stanners’ dynamic guard Russ Smith in the Royals’ 98-61 blowout.
“He was great, he was tremendous,” said Oliva, who noted that Smith is in the rotation and it was merely his turn. He does add speed and range to a team that at times lacks in those areas.
“The call can come at any time,” Smith said. “I have to be ready. Like in the Rice game, I wasn’t surprised. Everybody knew they were going to foul me. I just had to knock them down. [Against Molloy] there were a couple of problems with starters. I had to answer the call. It felt good to start.”
Smith, a 5-foot-9 guard from Woodside, would like to play more, but he doesn’t ever think twice about attending the Middle Village school. Sure, he won’t play much this year, but once Walker leaves for Florida next fall his opportunity will arrive. Plus, he has learned from two of the best – Walker and Malik Boothe, now at St. Johns, who was the starting point as season ago.
“I just watch both of their games and try to put it together,” he said. “I never regret [coming to Christ the King]. I know my time will come.”
