Lynn Classical’s own Michelle D. Smith (‘82) is set to be honored in Princeton, New Jersey as a Legend of Ivy League Basketball. Smith is one of 16 people to be selected for the honor.
The 16-member class contributed on the court, in the classroom, and in life at their respective basketball programs, universities, and chosen professions. Each school nominated one man and one woman to represent its respective institution.
Smith was inducted into Brown University’s Hall of Fame in 2000 after an impressive career. When Smith graduated, she was the third-highest scorer in program history with 1,291 points. She was also second in rebounds with 781.
Smith helped lead the Bears to back-to-back Ivy Championships as a sophomore and junior, and was named Ivy League Player of the Year as a sophomore. She averaged 20.3 points and 13.6 rebounds while shooting higher than 57 percent in Ivy League play.
Not only did Smith help the Bears win two Ivy Championships, but her team was the first team (boys or girls) to win in Brown’s history.
The ever-so-humble Smith prefers not to talk about her accomplishment. On the other hand, her “extremely close” brother Tyrone was more than happy to talk about his big sister.
“My sister and mother are very humble, so I guess I’m the spokesperson,” Tyrone Smith said.
When asked what kind of athlete his sister was, Tyrone Smith said she was “dominant” and compared her to the great Cheryl Miller.
“She was amazing. I always tell people the story of Reggie Miller and how he talks about his sister Cheryl, and how he was always trying to compete with her because she was that good,” Tyrone Smith said. “My sister was Cheryl Miller before Cheryl Miller.”
When Michelle Smith was in high school, the Lynn middle schools were from seventh to ninth grade, and high schools from 10th to 12th grade. Despite only playing three years of high school basketball, she finished her Rams career with 1,180 points.
Come graduation, she was Classical’s all-time leading scorer.
“She’s 6-1 and so good that even when teams threw double [or] triple teams, she would still score 30 plus,” Tyrone Smith said. “And if you sent her to the free throw line, she shot around 88 percent from the line.”
Michelle Smith averaged more than 28 points and 18 rebounds during her senior year at Classical.
“She was just that good. At that time, not a lot of girls were doing what she was doing in Lynn,” Tyrone Smith said.
Tyrone Smith said he’s “proud” of what his sister has accomplished.
“She’s an Ivy legend, so for all of time, she will be known as one of the greatest women’s basketball players to have ever played in the Ivy League,” Tyrone Smith said.
Off the court, he talked highly of his sister’s character.
“I love my sister and her character. She has a loving spirit,” Tyrone Smith said. “She’s the kindest and sweetest person you’ll ever meet. She’d do anything for anybody if she can. She loves to mentor young people and she loves to give back.”
Michelle Smith will be formally inducted as an Ivy Legend at the Ivy League men’s and women’s basketball tournament in March.
