The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1504445
AUGUST 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 13 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Guard Cooper Smith is a 24-year-old rising ju- nior. The son of U-M director of player personnel Jay Smith, who was an assistant coach for the Wolverines from 1989-96, he began his colle- giate career at Division III Kalamazoo College (2018-19), where his father was the head coach, but a back injury held him out of his freshman campaign. He left the program, spent two years away from college and enrolled at U-M in 2021, before walking onto the basketball team in 2022. Last season, Smith was a scout team member and appeared in four games. Here are some things about Smith you may not have known: Best Aspect Of Being From Ann Arbor: "I re- ally don't have a hometown; I've lived about ev- erywhere [in Michigan]. … But just being able to see Ann Arbor from when I was young growing up to now being a player here, it's pretty crazy, it's pretty surreal." Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "Frita Bati- dos. That stuff is fire." Best Meal He Can Cook By Himself: "I can grill some steaks!" Favorite Professional Athlete: "Chris Kaman at Central Michigan and Ray McCallum Jr. at Detroit Mercy. Those two guys, probably, but there's not just one guy I looked up to. Anybody we were around at the time who was playing pro in the league or overseas, those were my guys, those were the big bros." Sport He Enjoys Playing Besides Basketball: "Growing up, I was baseball, football, basketball — all the time, 24/7. I still have the itch to get out on the diamond or to be on the field running some routes." Favorite Television Show: "The Office." Favorite Movie: "Anything Will Ferrell. That dude is so funny." Why He Chose Michigan: "It was such a cool journey and process that I've gotten to be able to be a part of. If I would've gone to school and been healthy and played at Kalamazoo for my dad, I probably would have missed out on all the name, image and likeness stuff and my [youth] camps and all that. So, it was a blessing in disguise." What He Hopes To Do After Michigan: "I've had the itch now for a while to coach. It's what I've been around, it's what my family does. I have a huge passion for teaching. And, shoot, God didn't make me smart enough to be a doc- tor, so being able to help on the basketball court is how I'm getting that job done." Favorite Memory At Michigan: "Just being around my dad every day. Showing up to prac- tice and seeing him here, and now he can be on the court, is something pretty cool. Not too many college hoopers can be around their dad all the time." Overall Experience At Michigan: "It's just such a great experience to be a part of the brother- hood that we have here. Being on this side of it, it's super cool just to be around alums and having guys come back." — Clayton Sayfie Junior guard Cooper Smith totaled 1 rebound and 1 assist in four appearances for Michigan during the 2022-23 season. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY ❱ Getting To Know Men's Basketball Junior Cooper Smith