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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 28, 2004 Phoenix High graduate Mike Smith, shown at right during a game last season against St. Mary�s, will take his all-around skills to Willamette University. Smith finds a home in Cats’ den Strong showing at all-star hoops series earns Phoenix grad a ticket to Willamette By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Mike Smith would have been content to attend Oregon State University in the fall, major in engineering and put his basketball career behind him. But when Smith scored 23 points and played suffocating defense at the Class 3A East-West all-star basketball series at Clackamas Community College last month, he caught the attention of Willamette University coach Gordie James. A few days later, Smith had a scholarship in his grasp to play hoops for the Bearcats. Willamette is an NCAA Division III school that doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, but Smith’s 3.9 grade point average at Phoenix was plenty good enough to punch his academic ticket to the Salem school. "Basketball just wasn’t on my mind after last season," said Smith, a 6-foot-1½ , 165-pound shooting guard who helped Phoenix to a 22-3 record and the Skyline Conference championship last winter. "I was ready to move on and get used to the college atmosphere. Advertisement "But I had a good week up there (at the all-star series) and when the opportunity came to play college basketball, I couldn’t pass it up." Smith initially caught the eye of Wilsonville High coach Chris Roach, a friend of James who was helping coach the West team at the all-star series. Smith stood out in the first practice and then dominated the first scrimmage, said Kevin Dixon, who served as the head coach for the West squad. "That night Chris e-mailed Gordie (James) and told him this kid was the real deal," said the Phoenix boys basketball coach. Smith scored 23 points in the second game of the two-game series and hit what would have been the game-winning shot at the final buzzer, only to have it nullified by a controversial traveling call. "Most people thought he got pushed before the travel," Dixon said. "But that game showed what Mike can do." Smith averaged 13 points and shot 45 percent from the 3-point line and 86 percent from the free-throw line for Phoenix last season. He also used his quickness, long arms and strong work ethic to smother opponents on the defensive end of the court, blocking 38 shots in the Pirates’ 25 games. "He was our best defender and he shoots it as well as anybody I’ve coached," Dixon said. "I think Mike will be a great fit for Willamette." The Bearcats went 17-8 last season and tied for second place in the Northwest Conference with a 12-4 mark. They lose first-team, all-conference point guard David Force and second-team, all- conference power forward Miles Sandgathe to graduation, but return three starters, including former Roseburg High standout Brennan Garrelts. In 17 seasons at Willamette, James has posted a 279-159 record. Smith’s backcourt mate at Phoenix, Brett Ellis, signed with Pacific University in Forest Grove earlier this year. Pacific and Willamette both belong to the Northwest Conference and play each other twice a season. "We’ll be going at it for years to come," Smith said. "That’s going to be fun." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times