Out of nowhere, a 6’2 guard made his way to start varsity for the Pennridge Rams. Rownan Smith could be an inspiration to many kids in the same position. As a freshman, Rownan played for the freshman team like a lot of his current teammates did. He played well but was not an overwhelming standout player. If you said his name to any jv or varsity players at the time they would not have known who he was.
As his sophomore campaign came around, he thought he was ready but on the court he clearly was not. In summer and fall leagues, he struggled to find his role and what he was good at on the basketball floor. That did not stop Rownan, however, as he has a winning mindset. He said that he goes to the YMCA almost every day to play basketball and that hard work paid off. After struggling in the summer and early fall, open gyms came around, and after spending countless hours in the basketball gym, his teammates said he looked like a completely different player. Some of the comments heard in practice were, “Look at this guy”, “where did he come from?” and “When could he do that.” All of his teammates were shocked by how he was playing, and he earned respect. As he received that respect, Rownan made it known that he was humble. He said he always asks the older players, “How do I get better?” or “What do I do here?” Rownan mentioned that those talks helped him just as much as the work he put into basketball.
As the season started, Rownan started on the bench, but that changed quickly. In his first game, he was one of the most impactful players on the court and proved why he should start. One of his favorite basketball memories came in this game as he hit a jump shot to trim the lead in a packed gym. He even has a picture of himself yelling while running back on defense as he ignited a comeback. The guard’s biggest strengths are shooting, and defense and that is exactly what he provided to the team. A selfless player, Rownan did whatever the coach asked of him and whatever the team needed of him. He started for the remainder of the season and had a successful sophomore campaign, having a breakout game against Souderton Area High School.
Rownan is now going into his junior year where the expectations are high around the team. He spent all summer in the gym with other teammates, living by the slogan eat, sleep, and breathe basketball. Rownan said, “All I want to do is win this year.” He said that the individual goals do not matter if he and the team do not win. For the Pennridge Rams, who finished 4-18 last season, this is great to hear, as they would like to turn the program around. Rownan is looking to be a leader this year and at every practice, he brings the same message, “Let’s have fun.” Rownan felt that last year, the team did not have as much fun together as they should have had. He thought there was a good group of guys who liked each other off the court but on the court, the chemistry was not there. This year Rownan’s name should be known and his significance in the sport will be felt by the Pennridge Rams and the Suburban One Sports League. Rownan is shaping up to be a standout player on a standout team this year.
For Rownan, however, life goes beyond basketball. Rownan takes AP and honors classes and is successful in them all. Although he aspires to play basketball at the next level, he aspires to be a lawyer. Recently, he visited Adelphi University, which looks like a school he is eyeing. As a member of the Pennridge community, Rownan is a part of the NOVA organization. He takes time out of his school day to visit middle schools and elementary schools and present on topics related to bullying. He preached what being an upstander is all about and how important it is not to be a bystander.
Rownan Smith, on and off the court, is shaping up to leave a great legacy at Pennridge. On the basketball court, he is a leader and hard worker. He is involved in the community and is a great student off the court. Keep your ears open for this kid because he is special, and you do not want to miss it.
