The do-it-all senior from Catholic Central averaged 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 2.8 assists this season.
Smoot, a freshman, watched as teammate Abby Peterson won the Ohio Heritage Conference South Division Player of the Year award. The following season, his teammate Mallory Mullen was named Miss Basketball of Clark County.
Smoot set his sights on winning both awards.
“I wanted them both, and seeing how hard they worked, I knew I had to work hard, too,” Smoot said. “I knew I had to push myself twice as hard.”
She joins a strong list of Catholic Central players to earn this award, including Becky Petty, Liz Rigel, Leslie Parnell and Maren.
While basketball skills are important, Miss Basketball award winners must also demonstrate some strong skills off the court, including leadership, citizenship, and performance in the classroom. The award is named for former Wittenberg University women's basketball coach Pam Evans-Smith.
“I was so excited because I finally achieved the goal I had always wanted to have. And I knew I was making my dad proud because he’s a big reason why I’m the player I am today.” said Smoot.
The Irish got off to a rocky start to the season, spending most of last fall without a head coach. At the last moment, Jordyn's father, Randy Smoot, was hired to take over the program. She knows that having her father on the floor with her played an important role in her own success.
“It was very unexpected, but I think it was for the best,” Smoot said. “He knows my potential and when I'm not working as hard as I should. He knows me very well and has known the girls the longest, so He pushed me harder than any other coach and I thought it was special because he was my first coach and it was really great to end up with him. Ta.”
Smoot will play collegiately at Ohio Christian University. She has been training with the team several days a week in preparation for her upcoming season.
This spring, she will also take on a new challenge in track and field. She competes in the discus as well as the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays. Her father is also Ireland's track and field coach.
“Every week I had less and less time,” she said.
She said she hopes winning this award will also help Catholic Central's young athletes.
“I want to be the one who can prove to the girls at Catholic Central that you don't have to come from a huge school like Springfield or KR to win awards.” You can win any prize you want. You want it because you earned it, not because you deserve it. ”
Springfield coach Terry Tolliver was named All-County Coach of the Year.
Southeastern senior Christian Shediac won the Southwest Ohio Public Employees Association Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award, and Greenon coach Nick Minnich won the Coach's Sportsmanship Award.
2023-24 Clark County Coaches
National women's basketball team
Dayveona Boynton, Springfield, Soph.
Lauren Byrd, Northwestern Sr.
Allie Hundley, Greenon Sr.
Maia Lawrence, Father Emmanuel Christian
Brooke Nelson, Southeastern Junior
Millie Portis, Springfield, Soph.
Chloe Reese, Shawnee Jr.
Sarah Riley, Greenon Jr.
Sammy Russell, Tecumseh, Soph.
Jordyn Smoot, Catholic Central, Sr.
Summer Sword, Kenton Ridge, Soph.
Player of the Year: Jordyn Smoot, Catholic Central
Coach of the Year: Terry Tolliver, Springfield