Risco sports thriving in present, future with Sammy Smith's influence

Veteran Risco High School varsity boy’s basketball coach Brandon Blankenship has seen a lot of talented athletes come through his program during his highly successful 22-year tenure, and current junior guard Sammy Smith ranks up there with the best.

“He can put us on his back at times,” Blankenship said following the Tigers’ recent season-ending loss at Richland (Essex) in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 championship game.

Smith’s ability, along with Risco returning all but three graduating seniors from this season, bodes well for the Tigers next winter.

“He is our leader on the court,” Blankenship continued. “He has an understanding of what it takes on both sides of the ball, offense and defense.”

In the final game of his junior campaign, Smith totaled 33 points against a very good Rebel defense that was focused on containing him. He buried a trio of 3-pointers but also scored 12 buckets from inside the arc on short jumpers and drives.

“He gets in the gym in the summer,” Blankenship said of Smith’s off-season, “and he has to continue to try to make others around him better.”

The evolution of Risco basketball with Smith on the roster has been impressive.

In his freshman season, the Tigers won nine games, followed by 15 last season and a 23-5 mark this season.

“This group was so fun to coach,” Blankenship said of the 2023-24 team. “The way that the guys got along, the camaraderie, the teamwork that we had, and the way that they loved each other.

“I was blessed with a great group this year.”

In the near future, Smith isn’t going to be “in the gym,” but behind the plate.

He takes his leadership skills and applies them to the Tiger baseball program as the team’s catcher, and is coached by Blankenship in that sport, as well.

“Sammy is a fabulous catcher,” Blankenship said. “He is tough. He is gritty and he blocks balls.”

It is no coincidence that the Risco baseball program, with Smith orchestrating things behind the plate, has followed a similar path of growth as Blankenship’s hoops teams.

Two years ago, the Tigers won nine games before improving to 15 last spring.

The same trajectory has been seen in the fall baseball season.

Risco won six games when Smith was a freshman, seven during his sophomore season, and finished 12-12 last fall, which was the most victories during the autumn portion of play that Risco baseball has had in well over a decade.