Basketball career comes full circle for former CC standout

Former Charles City Lady Panther Deborah Smith (left) tries to deliver a pass between former high school adversaries Roslyn Presley (25) and Raechaun Edwards.

Andre' Jones photos

Destiny is defined as the power that determines the course of events. For former Charles City Lady Panther standout basketball player Deborah Smith, her destiny entitled tying roots of her hometown into her collegiate basketball year.

The junior guard who attends North Carolina A&T University found familiar opposition Monday night as her team faced the Lady Camels of Campbell University, the same opposition that faced her beginning nearly 10 years ago.

Smith played her middle school and freshman year of basketball at Charles City, exceeding at those levels and receiving interests from multiple colleges. Smith transferred to Hampton High School for the next three years, earning Peninsula District honors. She later received a scholarship to attend James Madison University. After two years, Smith decided to transfer to North Carolina A&T. After sitting out one year due to the transfer rule, she is playing a more prominent role on the court.

But destiny intervened with Smith’s path. Smith’s time in Charles City would not escape her, even at the collegiate level.

Take last Monday night for example; Smith and her Lady Aggies suited up to take on the visiting Campbell Lady Camels. And as Smith took the court, she looked across the way to see not one, not two, but three very familiar faces.

Among the first recognizable faces to Smith was Roslyn Presley, a native of Petersburg who played for Peabody Middle School and Appomattox Regional Governor School. Smith and Presley have battled since their first encounter in sixth grade and the reunion excited the former Lady Panther.

“It was kind of exciting to play Roslyn again,” said Smith. “I never thought our paths would cross again, especially when we started to play on the college level.”

But destiny had more in store for Smith. Another opponent, Raechaun Edwards, played guard for Surry County High School. While Smith was not a member of Charles City at the time, she faced off with Edwards as a member of Hampton High.

The last adversary that she defended most of the night was Kiera Gaines, a graduate of West Point High School. And while the two never faced each other, Smith had heard about Gaines’ skill level from former Charles City teammates.

“Just to be able to play Raechaun and Kiera was amazing,” Smith added. “It makes me feel good to know that girls like us can come from small communities and play at this level.”

Along with those young ladies, Smith was part of a feature on Virginiapreps.com highlighting the success of small school athletes from Region A. And while Gaines, Presley, and Edwards put up good statistical numbers, it was Smith’s 10 points and five rebounds that helped the Lady Aggies to a 62-47 win.

While Smith finished her high school career outside the boundaries of Charles City, her hometown always remained in her heart.

“It makes me feel so good to know that no matter what I did, I always received support from the community,” said the junior guard. “I can’t even thank them enough for the things they’ve said to encourage me along my journey.”

And that journey can be considered one of destiny.

Deborah Smith is fouled while driving to the basket by Campbell’s Jessica Pone.