By Randy Whitehouse,Staff Writer
Winthrop forward Tyler Smithgall has matured into one of the better players in Class C.

WINTHROP – Tyler Smithgall was the new kid in town. So it’s understandable that he didn’t want to step on any toes when he moved from Spokane, Wash., to Winthrop before his junior year, then joined the varsity basketball team.

He also admits that he wasn’t completely comfortable with his new school, his new position and, as it turned out, his bigger body when he first became a Rambler.

“Coming from a different school, I didn’t want to just jump in and take over. I’d let the seniors do that.” Smithgall said. “I was 5-foot-11 in Washington and I was playing guard, and then I grew to about 6-2, 6-3 and playing forward.”

Smithgall grew into one of the tougher matchups in Class C, and has led the Ramblers to the state championship game against Calais this Saturday night. The MVC All Conference forward was named the outstanding player in the Western C tournament after averaging nearly 22 points per game in the three games.

The tournament showed how far Smithgall has come from a junior year in which he was plagued by foul trouble, lacking in confidence and relegated to being a role player. But his improvement isn’t so surprising considering that it wasn’t long after that season finished that he showed signs of being ready to become a major factor his senior year.

“I think it was two Sundays after the season started,” said Winthrop coach Dennis Dacus. “We were in the Undergrad Tournament at the YMCA and it was like a light went off. He was playing like a man possessed.”

An eye-opening summer of basketball against Class A competition and the additional 15 pounds he packed on for football (where he played tight end and defensive end for the Ramblers) helped him adapt to the more physical play down low.

Fortunately for the Ramblers, though, Smithgall didn’t suddenly fancy himself a Shaquille O’Neal in the paint. He was happy to use his guard skills to his advantage and become one of the toughest frontcourt match-ups in Class C.

“Since I’m not as big, I can get into position quicker sometimes. It’s just holding my position that is kind of hard,” he said.

The Ramblers don’t worry much about Smithgall holding that position because pushing him off the block just makes him harder to defend. He has a deadly mid-range jumper, can hit the 3, and is quick off the dribble.

He fits the big man’s mold for Winthrop’s offense perfectly.

“You couldn’t ask for a better big man for what we want to do, to get up and run,” Dacus said. “He runs the floor real well. He dribbles well for 6-3. He passes well. He can hit the outside shot if he’s trailing. And when we have to slow down, if a guy 6-5 has to guard him, he’s quicker than them. And if a guy 6-3 tries to guard him, Tyler plays like he’s 6-5 with his long arms.”

Smithgall has come a long way from Washington, and Dacus and the Ramblers are glad.