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Mount Vernon Nazarene University |
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MVNU Men's Basketball Team Lands Johnstown Starwritten by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men’s
basketball team has signed another key recruit for the 2004-2005
season with the addition of Josh Smith, who has decided to further
his education and continue his basketball career with the Cougars.
Smith, a 6-foot guard from Johnstown, Ohio, averaged 17.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.8 steals per game as a senior at Johnstown-Monroe High School. Smith, who set school records for most three-pointers made in a game, a season, and a career, helped the Johnnies to a undefeated regular season and a 24-1 record overall. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Ohio First Team and the Central District Player of the Year in addition to being selected to the Mid-Buckeye Conference First Team, the Central District First Team, the District 11 First Team, and the Newark Advocate First Team. He was also the Mount Vernon News Player of the Year and was named to the Columbus Dispatch Third Team.
"Josh is a very good perimeter shooter with a quick release,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. "He spends a lot of time working on his game and it has paid off. I have seen him grow from one of our summer campers to a very good college prospect. Josh is a strong student and a fine Christian young man. He really desired to attend a Christian university. He should be a great addition to our team and our campus.”
In addition to playing basketball, Smith is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the New Albany First Church of the Nazarene youth group. He was also a member of the senior prom court at Johnstown.
"I chose MVNU because it offers a Christian atmosphere and because of the academic, social, and athletic environment,” said Smith of his college choice. "The chance to play basketball at a Christian college where I have many friends already attending and the great academic and athletic tradition (especially in basketball) made MVNU an easy choice.”
The Cougars posted a 23-13 overall record in 2003-2004 to mark the seventh time in the past eight years that the team has topped the 20-win mark. MVNU also finished tied for second in the highly competitive American Mideast Conference South Division with a 13-3 mark, and the Cougars advanced to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament for the third straight year where the team lost in the national championship game to finish as the national runner-up. MVNU also finished the season ranked 24th in the final NAIA Division II national poll.