C-G's Smith became the complete player

It would have been pretty easy for Danielle Smith to rack up some pretty gaudy numbers on the basketball court this season. After averaging 15 points per game as a junior, she could have turned her third season on Cary-Grove's varsity into a personal scoring campaign.

But that's not what this 6-foot all-around athlete was or is about. Her focus was more on her team's total at the end of the game than her own.

"It was a total team thing for Dani," said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert. "She put aside the personal for the team."

And what a team it was. The Trojans finished the season 26-4, recording the second most wins in program history. They won the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship with a perfect 10-0 record and nailed down a regional title as well.

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In the end, Smith was the team's leading scorer again. But this year, with the offensive wealth being spread around, she averaged just 11.9 points per game. Beyond that, though, she also led the team in assists and steals and made herself a complete player. She also had a team-high 20 3-pointers and was a 72 percent free-throw shooter. She finished her career with 97 3-pointers.

"Her sophomore year she was all about the 3-pointer," said Saffert of Smith's area-leading 55 3s her first varsity season. "She came to me and we watched tapes and said 'All I did was shoot the 3.'Last year she learned how to drive to the basket better and this year she did both and did it well. She just learned how to do it all."

And for her efforts, Smith has been named an honorary co-captain of the Daily Herald's 2007-08 Fox Valley All-Area team. She shares the honor with St. Edward junior Katie Yohn. They, along with the rest of the all-area team and the players of the week, will be honored at the newspaper's annual basketball recognition awards dinner Sunday, March 16 at Stonegate Conference Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates. Smith is the first girls basketball player from Cary-Grove to be named an all-area captain.

In addition to being a complete player on both ends of the floor, Smith also became a leader this season. A team co-captain with Jamie Kuhl, it was a role she didn't take lightly.

"At the beginning of the season I didn't really know what to expect," said Smith, a three-time all-area selection. "We had a freshman point guard and another freshman coming in. The five seniors just got together and talked about how we could make everyone feel comfortable. We just took every practice and every game one at a time."

Saffert knew his squad would be in good hands with Smith as one of the captains.

"We have our kids vote on captains and our captains have a contract with a lot of leadership qualities in it they have to follow," Saffert said. "Both Dani and Jamie obliged all the time. They were always willing to be open and honest with us and they always communicated with us."

Smith accepted the captain's role with vigor.

"We were at coach (Dave) Otto's house," she said. "We watched a movie and then we voted on captains. When Jamie and I were told we were captains, we had to fill out this contract and there was a lot of things we needed to do as captains. It was a lot of work."

But it was work well worth it, work that helped formed the togetherness of a team that won 26 of 30 games.

"Our chemistry was really good this year," said Smith, who finished her Cary-Grove career with 1,073 points. "We had team sleepovers and we were always together. We became a family.

"I knew going into the season we could be pretty good but I never expected to lose only four games."

Part of the reason for that was Smith's unselfish play, which didn't go unnoticed around the Fox Valley Conference.

"I really thought she put team first and herself second and that's why they had the success they had," said Dundee-Crown coach Joe Komaromy. "She was so unselfish, and I really think she helped the development of those freshman kids they had too."

Basketball isn't the only sport in Smith's life. As much as she loves the game, she has an equal passion for volleyball. Balancing those two sports isn't easy, especially with the demands most club volleyball teams place on their players.

But in Smith's case, the Sky High club made it possible for her to play both sports without conflict, something she might like to do in college as well. She plans on attending college with her twin sister Breanna, also an athlete of course.

"What I appreciate about Dani, Bre and their family is they worked with us," Saffert said. "They found a club that didn't play during the basketball season and her dad (Bubba) always worked with us. For Dani and Bre to want to play both sports says a lot. It's tough and I commend both those kids for doing it."

Until this season it's safe to say volleyball was Smith's top sport. But that changed this season and now both she and Bre are considering playing both sports at the next level, possibly at McHenry County College or Judson University.

"Going into the season I didn't realize how much basketball meant to me," she said. "I did in the last few weeks of the season and I don't want to stop playing."

Basketball got into Smith's blood at an early age. Her dad, an assistant football coach at Stevenson for his cousin and Cary-Grove resident Bill Mitz, coached her and Bre at a young age and helped form Dani's athletic passion.

"Ever since me and Bri were little, he started us playing basketball," said Danielle, who has two younger sisters. "Her always taught us to never give up and he always pushed us to do our best. I wouldn't be the player I am today without him."

Let's not forget about mom Krista either.

"She was always there to for me to cry to when dad was tough on me," Dani smiled.

The end result of all of that was the formation of an athlete who closed out her high school career with resounding success.