INSTITUTE, W.Va. –It was a somber afternoon at West Virginia State University as family, friends, and community members gathered at the Walker Convocation Center to honor the life of student-athlete Ishmael Smith.
Smith, a junior guard for the men’s basketball team, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15. He was found unresponsive in his dorm room after teammates returned from dinner.
WVSU President Ericke Cage, men’s head basketball coach Bryan Poore, Athletic Director David Hicks, Professor Megan Sheets, who had Smith in class during the fall semester, and others spoke at the memorial Wednesday.
Cage said the goal of the memorial was to help everyone remember the kind of person Ishmael was.
“What we were trying to do today obviously is to remember his life and legacy, reflecting on all of his contributions, and renewing out spirit, and recommitting ourselves to the work of the university which of course is to transform lives through excellence and education,” he said.
Smith, who transferred from Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, was in his first season with the Yellow Jackets. He led the team in scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game through nine games.
Coach Poore said Smith played a huge role for the team, both on and off the court.
“He was a valuable part of our locker room, not just our team on the court, but a part of our locker room, and like I say he’s deeply missed,” he said.
While speaking at the memorial, Poore recalled that his last interaction with Smith came after practice on the 15th, when Ishmael told him he was going to beat his high score in Pac-Man.
He also said he knew only a small part of the impact Smith had on the community but learned many more stories about the difference Smith made in the lives of others.
“I knew parts of it, but in the last month, I’ve heard so much more, from people I didn’t even know he touched, communication teachers, our Vice President he calls him just out of the blue to just check on him to see if he’s okay, like the Vice President needs a student to check on him, that’s just who Ish was,” Poore said.
Along with basketball, Smith was involved in community outreach programs, including visits to Dunbar Primary School, where he read to children.
Cage said Smith’s impact will be remembered, especially given the number of people who showed up to honor him.
“Ish made a significant impact on our community, it says that here at West Virginia State we are a family, we a community, and when things happen, when we have a loss, our family will gather together and support one another to get us through this difficult time,” he said.
Poore called the turnout a moving show of support and remembrance.
“To see this many people come out, not only his people but so many faculty members, so many students, speaks volumes of Ish and the things he did on this campus and the relationships that he built,” he said.
Cage posthumously honored Smith by presenting his family with a Regents of Bachelor of Arts degree.
The university also held a ceremony to retire Smith’s jersey, number 8, before Wednesday evening’s game against Glenville State University.