A Birthday Tribute to Coach Smitty. Building More Than a Basketball Program — Building Futures

BLXCR Editorial: There are many voices today that speak negatively about the church, often questioning its role and relevance in the community. But the truth is simple: those who do little work in the community rarely see the good work being done within it. Real impact often happens quietly, through service, sacrifice, and spaces created for young people to grow.

That is why we want to recognize the Outreach Christian Center Sports Arena and Banquet Hall in Clinton, Maryland, a place that continues to open its doors so that our youth have somewhere positive to gather, train, and develop.

Huddling up for Prayer

This past weekend, the gym was full. Parents, families, and young athletes packed the building, not just to celebrate awards, but to celebrate something deeper—commitment, discipline, and promises kept. At the center of it all stood Coach Smitty, , co-founder of the Instant Results Basketball Program, a grassroots youth basketball league that has quietly become a pillar of opportunity for countless young people. For years, Coach Smitty has poured his time, finances, and spirit into creating a space where young athletes can grow—not only as basketball players, but as disciplined young men and women who believe in themselves.

What makes the program remarkable is not corporate sponsorship or large institutional backing, but the steady support of parents, friends, and family members who believe in the mission and help make the work possible.

Reflecting during the ceremony, Coach Smitty spoke honestly about the journey and the sacrifices required to sustain the program. For nearly eight years, Instant Results Basketball moved from gym to gym, yet one thing remained constant: Saturday belonged to the kids. No matter what obstacles came their way, the commitment never changed. As he shared with the crowd, the organization has often operated straight out of the pockets of good parents, friends, and family members who always stepped forward to support the vision.

Thousands of young people have passed through the program over the years, each one touching the basketballs and the lessons that came with them. Some continued their journeys with other clubs, and that, Smitty acknowledged, is part of the process of youth development. Yet every now and then, a young athlete’s journey grows especially close to the heart. One of those athletes became the centerpiece of the celebration that day. Years ago,

Coach Smitty met a young girl who would eventually become one of the program’s proudest success stories. The relationship began simply—with work, patience, and belief. She had never played organized basketball when she first connected with the program, but Smitty encouraged her to try out for her junior high school team. The early days were not glamorous. She often came off the bench and only saw the court for brief moments during games. Still, she kept showing up, and the work continued day after day.

One moment in particular stayed with Coach Smitty. During one game he noticed the player’s mother standing nearby with tears in her eyes. When he asked her what was wrong, she explained that she felt her daughter had somehow let him down. Smitty immediately reassured her, telling her that the young player had never let him down—not once—and that one day she would become something special. That belief became the foundation for the journey that followed.

Recognizing her potential, Smitty reached out to people he trusted within the basketball community. He connected with Coach Boogie, who could see the promise in her game but knew she still needed refinement.

 From there she worked out with Coach Ronald Ford at Eastern, who also recognized her talent while emphasizing the need for continued development. The next step came with Ronnie Rell, another experienced trainer who added his own guidance to her growth. Each mentor saw the same spark and contributed to her development, but it was the consistent work—by the athlete herself, by Coach Smitty, and by others who believed in her—that ultimately shaped the outcome.

The turning point came last summer when Coach Smitty made a promise to the player’s mother. He told her that if she allowed him to train her daughter throughout the summer, he guaranteed she would be ready for the winter season. Trusting his vision, the family agreed, and the work began. For the entire summer they came into the gym every single day, training three hours at a time. It was not glamorous. It was discipline, repetition, and dedication. Yet that commitment eventually produced the breakthrough Smitty believed was coming.

At one point he even arranged for her to train with high-level athletes connected to Tyc Davis’s training crew. When she stepped onto the floor with them, they immediately noticed her determination and potential. They welcomed her into their training environment and began to view her as part of their extended basketball family. From that point forward, when they spoke about their program and the athletes they worked with, they made sure to mention her as someone who represented the same work ethic and spirit.

By the time the season arrived, the transformation was undeniable. The young player who once began her journey on the bench had reached a milestone that few athletes achieve. Now a junior, she was named First Team All-County. When Coach Smitty announced the achievement inside the gym that afternoon, the room erupted in applause. Parents stood, teammates cheered, and the pride in the building was unmistakable. Smitty reminded everyone of where the story began—with a young player sitting quietly on the bench—and how dedication had carried her to one of the highest honors in the county.

After the ceremony, we had the opportunity to speak with the young athlete herself, Ms. Christian, whose journey reflects the spirit of the Instant Results Basketball Program. Christian shared that she first met Coach Smitty when she was in the sixth grade. He encouraged her to begin coming to the gym on Saturdays, and from that point forward the relationship grew through training and mentorship. Giving up

Saturdays might be difficult for many young people, but Christian saw it differently. She explained that she wasn’t doing much with her weekends anyway, so investing that time into basketball felt natural and worthwhile.

Christian also spoke about the players who inspire her as women’s basketball continues to gain national attention. She shared that she initially looked up to JuJu Watkins and now admires Flau’jae Johnson, the talented point guard from LSU. Yet while basketball is central to her dreams, academics remain equally important.

Christian currently maintains a 3.5 grade point average and plans to pursue a major in biology when she enters college. At the same time, she continues to pursue her basketball ambitions with the hope of eventually reaching the WNBA, explaining that she loves the competitiveness of the sport and the way it pushes her to improve.

Her friends, she said, understand the commitment required to chase those goals.

When she cannot participate in certain activities because she has to train, they support her and respect the dedication it takes to pursue athletics at a high level. Some of them even accompany her to the gym because many of them also play sports and appreciate the discipline required to succeed. Christian also recognizes that her journey may inspire younger athletes, particularly young Black girls who may not always see themselves represented in leadership or athletic spaces. She believes that simply showing up, working hard, and pursuing her goals can give younger girls the confidence to believe that they too can accomplish what they set their minds to.

When asked if she had any final words to share, Christian offered a message that reflected both humility and faith. She encouraged young people to pray, talk to God, and stay happy as they continue moving forward in their journeys.

Programs like Instant Results Basketball often operate quietly, far from the spotlight of major sports institutions. Yet their impact can be profound. They provide young people with structure, mentorship, and a sense of belonging that can shape their futures far beyond the basketball court. Coach Smitty’s work stands as a reminder that the greatest victories are often measured not in championships or trophies, but in the lives changed through guidance, belief, and opportunity. From a young girl who once sat on the bench to a First Team All-County athlete with college aspirations, the story that unfolded inside that gym is proof of what can happen when a community invests in its youth.

As the applause echoed throughout the building that afternoon, one thing was clear. The legacy Coach Smitty is building extends far beyond basketball. It is a legacy rooted in faith, mentorship, and the unwavering belief that every young person deserves a place where they can grow, learn, and chase their dreams. For the many young athletes who have passed through the Instant Results Basketball Program, that gym has become more than a place to practice—it has become a place they can truly call their own.