The state's returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound junior point guard led the Hornets to a 31-4 record and the Division I state championship this past season. Smart averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and was named MVP of the state final for a second straight year. He concluded his junior year with 2,219 points in his prep basketball career.
Smart has maintained a weighted 3.32 GPA in the classroom and represents one of the state's top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade award's broad criteria. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
Smart has volunteered locally as a youth basketball coach and counselor. "Ja'Vonte is very, very, very good," said Taurus Howard, head coach of Edna Karr High. "He is a pro player in the making. He makes his teammates better and he has great knowledge for the game."
