Fresno State Athletics
Patience pays off for Bulldogs' Smith
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - It is said that good things come to those who wait. Though that may be where most people believe the quote ends, if you continue with that quote, the rest of it goes along the lines of, but better things come to those who work for it.
That has definitely been a theme for Fresno State senior forward Toni Smith during her time as a Bulldog. A native of Del City, Okla., Smith arrived more than 1,450 miles from home in the summer of 2012 unsure of exactly what she had signed up for. With the head coach she thought she was going to play for unexpectedly departing for another head coaching position, and a brand new staff being brought in, the future was suddenly uncertain for this two-time prep first-team all-state selection out of Oklahoma.
After getting her organized basketball start on the hardwood as an eighth grader, Smith quickly excelled at the game and began playing on more competitive AAU teams in high school. As she began to climb the ranks and see a potential future in the sport, she joined one of the top AAU programs in Oklahoma playing for the Oklahoma And1's. It was there that she played for coach Travis Washington, who said he "only wanted the eight best players in Oklahoma." Fortunate enough to be selected to that elite group, the And1's traveled around the country playing against some of the top AAU clubs in the nation.
It was at one of these national showcases, the Nike Oasis Tournament in Arizona to be exact, that Smith was, by chance, first introduced to Fresno State.
"I was at the concession stand and saw former Bulldog assistant coach Sadiaa Jones, and wondered where Fresno State was at, but didn't think too much about it," Smith recalled. "Only two days later, while we were still at the tournament, (former Fresno State head coach) Adrian Wiggins called me and introduced himself and told me all about Fresno State. He was very energetic and I liked him from a distance through a phone, so I could only imagine if I met him in person how much I would like playing for him. He had coached in Oklahoma and his coaching staff was from Oklahoma and they had a few players on the team from Oklahoma at the time, so it was a little more comfortable."
After receiving some interest from schools closer to home in Oklahoma State and Arkansas, it came down to choosing between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs. Despite enjoying the proximity to home and the beautiful scenery of the Fayetteville campus, the Bulldogs had offered a scholarship first. Having to make one of the toughest decisions of her life, her gut told her to stick with the 'Dogs despite receiving an offer from Arkansas the same day.
With the departure of Wiggins to Ole Miss following her senior season, she arrived in Fresno as an unknown to new Fresno State coach Raegan Pebley and her staff. Only seeing the floor in 39 games her first two seasons as a Bulldog, Smith knew sitting on the bench would test her patience, but that she would gain a lot of valuable knowledge.
"It was different. Knowing Coach Wiggins left, I didn't know what other choices I would have had if I left Fresno State, but a lot of my teammates kept me here. When I first met Coach Pebley and her staff, they had this great energy about them and I knew I was going to like them. The whole college atmosphere was new to me. The coaches I did have were great coaches and mentors to me and gave me great advice about basketball."
Staying firm in her desire to improve every day and continually put the work in, she knew her efforts would ultimately be rewarded.
"It changed a lot of my work ethic, and helped me grow as a person," Smith said about the early days at Fresno State. "I just knew it was not my time yet and I had to keep working as hard as I could and eventually I would get my time. You just have to know that the hard work will eventually pay off."
With Pebley moving onto TCU in the spring of 2014, and another new head coach and staff coming into town, Smith knew this was an opportunity for a new beginning. Showing a blue collar work ethic and a willingness to do anything to help the team, she endeared herself to White quickly.
"It was amazing and one of the best feelings that Coach White gave me an opportunity to play. I was not her recruit and she knew nothing about me. She probably looked at my stats from my first two years and was wondering like what is this, but I showed her I was willing to work hard in practice and I showed her I should play," Smith said.
"I am very thankful for her coming to Fresno State and I feel like everything happens for a reason and she was brought here for a reason. I feel like she knew how to adjust to us both individually and as a team. I am very thankful for her giving me the opportunity to play."
Assistant coach Mandi Carver also quickly noticed Smith's willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.
"When we first got here as a staff, she completely bought into our philosophy. Her work ethic and the extra time she has put in to develop her game has paid off greatly for her," Carver said.
After playing in all 33 games as a junior and averaging 8.5 points and nearly five rebounds a game, Smith knew that entering her final season as a 'Dog, she had to take her game to another level.
"Knowing that my time left here is getting short, I can't afford to waste any. There is no next year and that is in my mind every day, every game, every practice. That is how my mindset is right now."
Smith has certainly taken her game up to the next level recently helping the Bulldogs get off to an 8-0 start in Mountain West play. She has played a vital part in that success notching seven double-figures games and is averaging 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
Carver believes Smith is just starting to see how much potentially she truly has.
"I do not think she realizes how talented and athletic she is, Carver said. There are glimpses of her showing that potential, but she has so much potential to still improve and when you can say that about a senior at the end of January, that is very exciting."
In addition to her gained confidence on the court, Carver has also seen her grow tremendously as a leader both off the court over the last two years.
"I would say that I have seen her grow the most in her leadership ability since we have been here," Carver said. "I don't believe at this time last year she would have seen herself grow this much as a leader and being able to lead this team and speak for this team and show this team how to work hard on and off the court."
Knowing the toughest, but most exciting part of the season is still lying ahead, Carver knows the bar has been raised for the senior.
"I have really high expectations for everyone on the team, and especially for Toni," said an excited Carver. "The expectations for her are extremely high in my eyes for what I know she is capable of. A double-double should be the standard in my mind."
With ten games remaining in the regular season, including Senior Night on March 4, and the Mountain West Tournament still on the horizon, Smith is locked in on the present, but has an eye toward the future.
"It is exciting to still be undefeated in conference, but we know every team is after us and wants to knock us off," Smith said. "I will graduate in May with a degree in advertising, and after that I may start my career, or if an opportunity to play overseas is an option, I will try and pursue that, but for now all my focus is on this team."
After waiting for more than two years for her opportunity, Smith has certainly showed that good things come to those who work hard for it.
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