With a roster that crosses the country and often reaches around the world, La Lumiere doesn't typically have a local presence on its boys basketball national team.
The Lakers stayed closer to home with their latest addition in Valparaiso's Jack Smiley, a 6-foot-2 guard who will trade his senior year with the Vikings in hopes of building his mid-major college resume.
"I needed to weigh the pros and cons. It took a lot of thought. It wasn't easy at all," Smiley said. "The main reason to go is knowing I can get so much better competing against some of the top guys in the country every day in practice and playing one of the best schedules in the country. It's more of the factor of getting ready for college. It's something I feel like I couldn't pass up, with development, to be the best basketball player I can be."
Smiley averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game as a junior, surpassing 1,000 points for his career.
"It was a fast process," Smiley said. "We started talking when I was at Peach Jam. The week I came back, I visited the school.
(Coach Pat Holmes) believes in me. Talking to him, he's been watching me for several years. I have the trust he and the assistants can push me to be the best player I can be."
Indy Heat AAU teammate Jalen Haralson, who left Fishers to attend La Lu a year ago, has been pressing Smiley to make the leap and was his main sounding board in the process.
"He was like, yo, Jack, come to La Lu," Smiley said. "I would push it down. I was like, I don't know if I can do it, leave Valpo my senior year. I talked to him mostly, asked questions. We were in the room (at
Jack Smiley
Peach Jam) every night, talking the pros and cons. He had a lot of positive things to say about it, how much better I can get, how much better he got, how it will prepare me for college. I trusted his word and the word of the coaches on campus."
The 6-foot-7 Haralson, a top national recruit, heads a guard-heavy Lakers roster that Smiley will join.
"They're looking at playing eight, nine guys," Smiley said. "I'm going to get my playing time, a lot of minutes."
Up until Peach Jam, Smiley had missed much of the summer with an ankle injury sustained Memorial Day weekend, playing at less than 100 percent with Valpo at the Charlie Hughes Shootout before shutting it down for a period. The time off slowed his recruiting, which has since kicked back up again.
"Missing out on June with my high school team, was frustrating," he said. "I like playing with those guys, but I needed to stay off it. Once I was at Peach Jam, my phone was blowing up again. The recruiting will come."
Smiley spoke to Vikings coach Ben Lieske before he announced his plans Monday.
"I was telling him it was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," Smiley said. "He's been my guy for a long time, a guy I have a good relationship with. I've known him since middle school, elementary school. Obviously he was going to be frustrated, but in the end, he was real supportive, he wants what's best for me. Most of the people I've talked to are supportive. I've seen a couple things on my timeline here and there, haters, but the people who are close to me respect my decision and people in the field know it was the best for me."
Lieske understands how the dynamic of high school basketball has changed, with high-end recruits taking the prep school route.
"Jack's a gym rat," he said. "Now he can train at a high level all the time. It's a huge draw, being able to practice with high-caliber players every day. He has a dream of what he wants to be and I hope he reaches his goals. I wish him the best. I'm happy for him. It hurts. I'm disappointed to see him go. I was honored to get to coach him. He's a heck of a competitor, really good basketball player. High school is still something very special. That still holds true in the state of Indiana. There are challenges to the current landscape of the game, but that doesn't change how I value it. Anyone who goes to games knows it's a beautiful thing."
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