University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Meet the Bulldogs: Senior Tyler Smith
10.26.2015 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville women's basketball team tips off its 2015-16 season at East Tennessee State Friday, Nov. 13. As an opportunity to “Meet the Bulldogs,” one student-athlete will be highlighted each day leading up to the start of the season. Today's featured Bulldog women's basketball player is senior Tyler Smith.
One of two seniors on the team, Smith is a four-year player for the Bulldogs and is the lone senior in the front court. Smith has appeared in 55 career games but her role off the court may be her most important attribute due to her positivity, unselfishness and the amount of investment she takes toward the team and the program.
UNCABulldogs.com recently sat down with Smith.
Senior
Port Tobacco, Md.
What is your major: “Business management.”
What is your favorite part about your hometown? “I like that it's close to the city if I want to go but it's not too close if I don't want to be around it. I get the best of both worlds, a little bit of the suburb area and a little bit of city life.”
Why did you choose to come to Asheville? “I thought it was very different from the DMV area life. I live on the outskirts of the city so it's just a lot of city and I've seen the suburb areas but nothing like this. Definitely the scenery was beautiful. Kimmel Arena, when I came here I was just like 'wow, I want to play on that court.' The family atmosphere I felt when I came on campus, I just felt very connected automatically.”
What is your favorite part about UNC Asheville? “Is it corny if I say Kimmel Arena? I love the views, I love the food, but I feel like nothing has really brought me that 'oh my gosh' like Kimmel Arena.”
How long have you been playing basketball? “Since I could walk, literally, so three or four (years old).”
All-time starting five, who do you want on your team? “Definitely MJ, my daddy, Beyonce, I need a point (guard) – I'm going to go with – this is intense, Kyrie Irving, and Moses Malone.”
Really, no LeBron? “Can I change my answer? LeBron, I've got to include LeBron, Michael Jordan, my daddy, Beyonce and Jesus.”
What are you most looking forward to this season? “I'm looking forward to see how far our team can go when we incorporate everybody's beliefs, everybody's willpower, everybody's drive and the experiences we've had in the past – learning from those – how far we can go and how unstoppable we can be. I'm really looking forward to see how many mountains we can move and walls we can break down because I know we can do it. I feel like we are right in front of the door and I feel like this is the team for this year to do that so that's what I'm excited to see.”
When's the last time you took a selfie? “Actually before the scrimmage (Oct. 24), I put it on Snapchat.”
What's your favorite saying from Coach Mock? “I have to give a good one otherwise she won't think I listen to her (laughs). 'Always be a good teammate and everything else will fall into place after that.'”
What are three things you can't live without? “Sweets, sleep and my family.”
Are there any movies you know all the lines to? “Oh yes, every one. I literally watch all my favorite movies like a billion times so all of them I know. I love 'Pride and Prejudice' but I don't feel like anybody is going to know that one. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites. 'Little Mermaid' is one I love. 'Jurassic Park', any Jurassic Park movie. Any of them I know all the words to. I've seen the new one four times already.”
If you could max out your credit card at any store, what store would it be? “H&M.”
What's one of your favorite classes you've taken here? “I have to be careful on this, my professors come to the games. I really enjoyed my humanities three class.”
What's something someone or your teammates may not know about you? “I have a sixth toe. No, I'm just kidding (laughs). We're so open. I'm really a boring person, that's why this is so hard. I'm really looking forward to traveling a lot when I get older. I've already done a medical mission trip to Guatemala at the beginning of high school and that really piqued my interest for traveling.”
When I'm not on the basketball court, I am… “I'm a homebody so most of the time I'm just chilling, watching movies, stuffing my face.”
Is there anyone you try to model your game after? “I used to in high school try and model my game after Charles Barkley. I kind of got away from actually looking at film of other people and more so just looking at trying to maximize my strengths and minimize my weakness so I don't really model my game after anybody anymore. Whatever I can do to exploit what I'm good at and diminish what I'm not so good at.”
