By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In the heart of Seattle, Washington, Legend Smiley, a 6’5” junior shooting guard for Garfield High School, is making his hometown proud with an impressive basketball journey that has caught the eyes of many.
A talented all-around player, Smiley has emerged as a leader with a promising future on a team that has high expectations despite losing a number of outstanding seniors from last year’s state championship team.
Averaging over 25 points per game this season, Smiley has high hopes of bringing home another state win this year with his team. With Garfield losing a high number of seniors last year, Smiley has had to step up as a Junior to make his goal of winning another state championship come to reality.
“I’m looking forward to winning another state championship. We won one last year but it is going to be a little tough this year because we lost a lot of seniors coming into this year, so a lot of people are having to step up. Myself included by playing a much bigger role and being more of a leader this year,” says Smiley.
Over the years, Smiley’s stats have consistently improved, demonstrating his dedication to becoming a more skilled and versatile athlete. His journey from a quiet freshman to a communicative sophomore and ultimately a leader in his junior year showcases not only his on-court evolution but also his commitment to fostering teamwork.
Reflecting on his own personal growth, Smiley acknowledges improvements in all aspects of his game, emphasizing his development as a shooter and defender. However, he says that all areas of his game remain a work in progress.
“I would say I definitely have grown as a leader overall. On the court, I have gotten better in all areas; who I am as a shooter, and a defender, but I am still working to get better in all those areas,” says Smiley.
“Starting from my freshman year I was definitely quiet, sophomore year I started communicating a bit more, and then my junior year I had to be more of a leader. I began to talk to my teammates more, by leading them on the court and off the court,” added Smiley.
With an overall 9-4 record, including a 7-2 record in the Metro League, the Bulldogs, under Smiley’s leadership, are proving to be a physically dominant team.
Legend’s father, Garfield Girls Basketball Head Coach Roydell Smiley has nothing but positive things to say about his son. Roydell shared that Legend has always been a leader and a top player on every single team he has played on.
“First and foremost, I think he is a really good player,” says Roydell. “Legend has always been one to be the best he could be and that is from day one in second grade when he first started playing competitively.”
“Coming into high school our focus was to have him ready to step on the floor as a freshman and actually contribute as a freshman, and I feel that he did that,” says Roydell.
Despite having a solid freshman year, Roydell Smiley says that being coached by Brandon Roy has allowed Legend to further grow and develop his overall game, and to have a state championship win under his belt halfway through his high school career.
“Going into his second year Legend got to play with Brandon Roy who put him in the line up, made him a focal point, and they ended up winning the state championship,” says Roydell. “Legend stepped up and earned MVP honors as a sophomore, after his 30 point performance in the State Championship game last year, which was a great moment in his young career,”
Legend has quite the extensive track record when it comes to his basketball accomplishments. Playing this past summer with Seattle Rotary, he was recognized one of the top guys in the nation. He currently has interest from 19 different colleges, with 5 official offers. Two of which are from colleges here in his hometown.
“[Legend] played on the Nike EYBL circuit, and got invited to the Nike top 100 camp which was a great honor to recognize him as one of the top 100 players in all of the nation,” says Roydell. “Coming into his junior year, he is one of the top guys in the state and is looking to carry that torch at the prestigious Garfield High School.”
With the role that Smiley played his sophomore year, his goal of winning another state championship does not seem far out of reach. With the team now playing at full strength Smiley believes that the Bulldogs are posed to make a deep run in the state playoffs.
“I think that our team is coming together more. We recently just got all of our players cleared, so I think that at our full strength we will have a good chance at winning,” says Smiley.
His father agrees and winning the state championship again is something that he too wants for his son and his Garfield teammates.
“Legend’s role that he played his sophomore year has carried over into his junior year, and he is having a tremendous year. Already having a 40-point game, it is all really just coming together,” says Roydell.
