Taft Freshman Creates Quite a Buzz

Here’s the dilemma faced by Taft High coaches: They are so enamored with 14-year-old freshman Steve Smith, they don’t know how to act.

They don’t want to create unrealistic expectations by comparing Smith to perhaps the greatest Taft athlete, Olympic track champion Quincy Watts, but they can’t exactly hide the truth, either.

Anyone who saw Smith play football last fall or has attended a Taft basketball game this winter knows there aren’t many freshmen with his athletic talent.

“I’ve never seen anything like him,” football Coach Troy Starr said. “I’ve struggled to contain my excitement. Not only did I see him make outrageous plays catching the ball, but outrageous blocks.”

One reason Starr seemed a lot calmer this season even though Taft struggled to a 5-6 record was because he knew Smith would be on the varsity next season. Smith was too young to play varsity last season, so he obliterated freshman-sophomore competition by scoring 27 touchdowns as a receiver and free safety.

There is no age limit in basketball, and by the fifth game this season, Smith had become a starter.

He’s averaging 14.1 points, shooting 60% from the field and averaging 6.6 rebounds.

“We found out he’s one of our top players and we had to get him in there,” said Coach Mark Drucker, who has guided the Toreadors to a 6-1 record.

It’s fun to slip into the background and watch the crowd react when somebody sees the 6-foot-1 Smith play for the first time.

“People come to the game and go, ‘Whoa, who’s No. 11?’ ” basketball assistant Derrick Taylor said.

During the football season, a college recruiter was waiting for the Taft varsity to play when he saw Smith charge up and knock an opposing player out of bounds with a ferocious tackle.

“That guy’s a ninth-grader?” the coach said.

It’s not like Smith was an unknown.

Two years ago, he was the receiver and Justin Cassel of Chatsworth was the quarterback when the Northridge Knights youth football team finished unbeaten and won the Valley Youth Conference championship. He caught 34 touchdown passes.

“I just thank God I can do this,” Smith said.

Credit Smith’s success to the values and work ethic instilled by his mother, Audrey.

Call her overprotective. Call her a disciplinarian. Call her Bobby Knight in a skirt.

“Everything you heard is correct,” Audrey said. “He was taking out the garbage this morning at 6 o’clock.”

Added Smith: “She’s no joke. She’ll put me in my place anywhere.”

Smith and his 10-year-old brother, Malcolm, play sports only if their first focus is on academics.

“I let them know school is a priority and feel they need discipline in order to obtain the things in life,” she said. “I want him to get a college diploma. He hears it constantly from me, his father, uncles and relatives. He understands that is a requirement in order for him to play.”

In basketball, Smith’s strength is his instinct. He slashes into the passing lanes to disrupt offenses and is effective in the transition game. He’s a tremendous leaper and uses his speed and athleticism to surprise opponents. If there’s a part of his game that needs improvement, it’s his outside shooting.

In football, his speed, steady hands and decisiveness made him a remarkable player at the freshman-sophomore level.

“Some of the things he does are amazing,” said USC-bound football-basketball player Gregg Guenther.

Don’t worry that Smith might get a big head with so much attention. He knows he’ll ultimately be judged by his ability to improve each year.

“They’re always telling me there’s somebody better than you, so I’m always working hard,” he said.

It’s scary to think Smith can become even better.

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com