Memphis Roar

The city of Memphis, Tennessee can lay claim to arguably some of the best talent in the nation. Having already produced players such as Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, David Vaughn, Shawne Williams, Robert O’Kelly, Antonio Burks, Thaddeus Young, and many others, Memphis now has a handful of promising prospects in the years to come. With the recent addition of Elliot Williams and commitments from hometowners Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford, Memphis Tiger fans are looking forward with anticipation to watching the next Memphians in the limelight. With so much talent in the Memphis area, there tend to be a few players that are overlooked. Martell Smith-Williams is one of those players. A 6′0 180 lbs. Overton High School graduate and Memphis native, Smith-Williams now attends Clark State Junior College with hopes of gaining a Division I scholarship to play basketball next year.


Smith-Williams has had his fair share of adversity. After his high school career ended at Overton High School, Smith-Williams played over the summer with the Memphis Heat, averaging 20 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds a game.  Smith-Williams decided to attend a junior college in North Little Rock after high school; however, he was forced to red-shirt after dislocating his thumb right before the season began.  Despite this setback, Smith-Williams remained optimistic, working out every day and eventually practicing his shooting. Smith-Williams credits Coach Clark and Coach Finley, both of who have worked with NBA’s Joe Johnson and Derrick Fisher, for helping him with workouts during his time in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The summer after his first year of junior college, Smith-Williams was invited to play in a junior college recruiting game in Godfrey, IL. Smith-Williams picked up where his previous summer left off, scoring 36 points in the competition. Things were looking good and Smith-Williams appeared to be poised for a breakout season. He decided to transfer to the junior college in Godfrey, IL where he recently played in the junior college recruiting game. Three days after his decision, Smith-Williams received word that his new coach was leaving to coach for Jefferson College. Smith-Williams was not interested in following his new coach. Smith-Williams received numerous calls from coaches and athletic directors, trying to persuade him to go to various other schools. While stuck at a crossroad, Martell Smith-Williams knew only one place that was home- Memphis, TN.

Smith-Williams woke up every day and went to the Larry O. Finch Center where he spent most of his days working out with one of his good friends, Jeremy Hunt. Smith-Williams described Hunt as “like a big brother” to him, offering advice and sticking by Smith-Williams’ side. Smith-Williams remembers one summer afternoon in Memphis being dropped off at his house by Jeremy Hunt after their morning workout. Smith-Williams said he would never forget the advice that Hunt gave to him before he left. “Work hard at what you do and your talent will take you where you want to be, and always stay focused.”  Hunt’s words stuck with Smith-Williams and continue to push him to get better every day. “I took it and ran with it,” Smith-Williams said, “because I knew he [Hunt] has been there and won’t lie to me.”

Smith-Williams is now at Clark State Community College focusing on both his academics and his success on the basketball court. Smith-Williams is currently receiving interest from SIUE, Texas Pan America, EIU, Wright State, and North Florida, just to name a few. When asked if he had a favorite school that he would like to attend, Smith-Williams replied, “Miami Fl and Illinois at Champaign are two of my favorite schools, but I guess home is where it is at.” No matter where Smith-Williams chooses to play Division I basketball, one thing remains true– he can always find a home in Memphis.

Additional Q&A
Q: What do you miss most about Memphis?
A: “Well I miss going in the kitchen at night and getting a few snacks…haha… I miss Overton Weight Room and Gym…and also my family.”

Q: Who do you model your game after?
A: “I take my game after Derrick Rose…The way I like to attack the basket is similar to Derrick…He is also cool person to be around.”

Q: What are your strengths on the court?
A: “My strength on the court is taking it to the hole, drawing fouls, and I love to shoot 17 feet jump shots.”

Q: What are some areas that you would like to improve upon?
A: “I think I need to get better on defense.”

Q: Do you enjoy being recruited by coaches?
A: “It feels good to be noticed by coaches. It feels great for them to stop what they are doing to talk to you and put things in your head to make you the best.”

Q: I heard you are friends with Joe Jackson?
A: “Yeah, me and Joe have been cool since his 8th grade year, but started really talking his 9th grade year and my 11th grade year. Me and Joe grew up in the same neighborhood. Yeah, we’re still talking.”

Q: How do you think the high school/AAU/prep basketball in the city of Memphis compares with other cities in the US (Atlanta, NYC, Philly, etc)? And how does it feel to see some of the local Memphis players deciding to stay home by choosing the University of Memphis?
A: “Yeah, Memphis is a great city with basketball. I feel it’s a great place to come in from out of town and start your high school career at. And seeing Elliott Williams come back to Memphis and play, Joe sign, and Chris sign is a great thing for the city of Memphis and their families.”