Student Spotlight: Derrion Smith
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Derrion Smith, a fourth-grader at Carey Ridge Elementary School, can’t get enough of playing sports.
His mother, Deona, says he enjoys every sport he is involved in.
“Derrion has a major love for sports and it shows in all the sports that he partakes in,” Deona says. “For basketball, Derrion plays on Primetime Black and he plays on Grand Park Premier, which are these teams that he had to try out for amongst other kids his age. He has been on the Primetime team since he was in the second grade and started the GPP team in third grade.”
Deona adds that Derrion loves competing.
“Derrion participates in the Westfield Youth Sports rec league for football, which is a league of grade-level boys divided up into equal teams where they compete weekly against each other,” Deona says. “There is also an all-stars team formed when the regular season is over. He has been chosen to be on those teams before. This is where he will be on the fourth-grade all-stars team this year as well. Lastly, he has participated in WYS baseball leagues. During his first year participating in the baseball league, he was chosen to be on the all-star team. This past season he chose not to be on the all-star team due to his basketball schedule, but was asked to fill in when needed.”
Deona notes that Derrion has made a lot of friends on his various teams. “The relationships he builds with teammates from each team that he is on is what he loves about the teams that he plays on,” Deona says.
Derrion also keeps improving as he continues to play, according to Deona.
“Derrion is able to play any position in basketball,” Deona says. “He is able to control the rock and play as a big man down in the paint, due to his length and his ability to score in the paint. Derrion has the ability to move his feet and create problems for the opposing team with his defense ability.”
Derrion also plays multiple positions in football.
“He has been used as a quarterback due to his ability of passing the ball and running the ball,” Deona says. “He had been utilized in the backfield as a running back. Derrion is normally used as a tight end and wide receiver on offense. On the defense side of the ball, he has been utilized as a defense end and sometimes he will find himself playing safety. Derrion’s favorite position in baseball is playing pitcher and first base. Derrion had success playing catcher. He also had success in the outfield.”
Derrion has had some successful sports seasons.
“Out of all three sports, his most successful teams have been his basketball teams,” Deona says. “It’s in the way they compete, play together, and the chemistry they share. We believe that the success of this team has come from playing with the same group of young boys over the years, and the quality of the training and coaching has a major impact on their success.”
Derrion is also involved in other activities.
“He was a student ambassador, and now is a part of student council this year,” Deona says. “Another bonus for Derrion is that he was nominated for Student of the Month when he was a second-grader, and that was a really proud moment. What Derrion loves about school is setting good examples for his peers and leading by example in the classroom. Derrion also enjoys math and playing with his friends at recess.”
