University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Zoesha Smith
November 12, 2021 | Women's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Zoesha Smith hopes to still be playing basketball in 10 years, but if the Georgia sophomore isn't suiting up professionally, she knows what she wants to be doing. Ever since high school, she's wanted to be an athletic trainer once her playing days are done.
A 6-foot-1 forward from Brunswick, Ga., Smith played in 11 games last season, highlighted by an 8-point, 5-rebound showing against Auburn. During a recent Quick Chat, she talked about her interest in being a trainer, her funniest teammate, and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: A year ago when we did this, you were a freshman and so much was new for you. What has been the biggest change in you since you came to college, whether it's on the court or off?
Smith: I've changed in a lot of ways but probably the biggest is learning how to manage my time. Last year, it was really hard and I was sometimes frustrated as I learned how to do things. Now, I'm able to manage my time really well.
Frierson: Looking back on your early days in basketball, do you remember the first player you looked up to or when you realized that this was the sport for you?
Smith: I always looked up to A'ja Wilson because she was just a hard, go-getter. And I started playing basketball my seventh-grade year. I used to play with boys so I would play against them and try to see if I was really good at it.
Frierson: When did you know you were good?
Smith: I never played organized basketball for a long time, and when I did and I started getting used to it, and my coaches would tell me about my potential. That's when I was like, I could do something with this — and I just fell in love with it.
Frierson: What was it like the first time you played in front of a big crowd? Do you remember how it felt to have a few hundred people watching you?
Smith: I was nervous; it's nerve-wracking, of course. But then in order to do your best you have to tune that out.
Frierson: I know coaches talk about tuning out the crowd, but how hard is it to actually do that?
Smith: It's hard, it's really hard, because they're there and they're reacting to what's happening. It makes you feel good when you hear them cheering for you — you feel that energy.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Smith: I would say Jillian (freshman forward Jillian Hollingshead). She's naturally funny and she always makes me laugh. There are more funny players on the team but I think she's the funniest.
When you're in a bad mood or something, it's always good to have someone there to cheer you up and make you laugh.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing 10 years from now?
Smith: If I'm not playing professionally, I will be an athletic trainer?
Frierson: What got you interested in that?
Smith: I've always been around sports and I've always seen the trainers, and I've always thought that what they do is really interesting. I love helping people and doing that I'll get to help people for a living. And doing that, I'll always get a chance to be around basketball and sports, something I love.
In high school, I actually helped out our athletic trainer and I really liked doing that.
Frierson: Every time you're getting taped up before practice, do you study what the trainers are doing?
Smith: Yeah, I pay attention all the time. I'm always watching what they're doing.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Zoesha Smith hopes to still be playing basketball in 10 years, but if the Georgia sophomore isn't suiting up professionally, she knows what she wants to be doing. Ever since high school, she's wanted to be an athletic trainer once her playing days are done.
A 6-foot-1 forward from Brunswick, Ga., Smith played in 11 games last season, highlighted by an 8-point, 5-rebound showing against Auburn. During a recent Quick Chat, she talked about her interest in being a trainer, her funniest teammate, and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: A year ago when we did this, you were a freshman and so much was new for you. What has been the biggest change in you since you came to college, whether it's on the court or off?
Smith: I've changed in a lot of ways but probably the biggest is learning how to manage my time. Last year, it was really hard and I was sometimes frustrated as I learned how to do things. Now, I'm able to manage my time really well.
Frierson: Looking back on your early days in basketball, do you remember the first player you looked up to or when you realized that this was the sport for you?
Smith: I always looked up to A'ja Wilson because she was just a hard, go-getter. And I started playing basketball my seventh-grade year. I used to play with boys so I would play against them and try to see if I was really good at it.
Frierson: When did you know you were good?
Smith: I never played organized basketball for a long time, and when I did and I started getting used to it, and my coaches would tell me about my potential. That's when I was like, I could do something with this — and I just fell in love with it.
Frierson: What was it like the first time you played in front of a big crowd? Do you remember how it felt to have a few hundred people watching you?
Smith: I was nervous; it's nerve-wracking, of course. But then in order to do your best you have to tune that out.
Frierson: I know coaches talk about tuning out the crowd, but how hard is it to actually do that?
Smith: It's hard, it's really hard, because they're there and they're reacting to what's happening. It makes you feel good when you hear them cheering for you — you feel that energy.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Smith: I would say Jillian (freshman forward Jillian Hollingshead). She's naturally funny and she always makes me laugh. There are more funny players on the team but I think she's the funniest.
When you're in a bad mood or something, it's always good to have someone there to cheer you up and make you laugh.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing 10 years from now?
Smith: If I'm not playing professionally, I will be an athletic trainer?
Frierson: What got you interested in that?
Smith: I've always been around sports and I've always seen the trainers, and I've always thought that what they do is really interesting. I love helping people and doing that I'll get to help people for a living. And doing that, I'll always get a chance to be around basketball and sports, something I love.
In high school, I actually helped out our athletic trainer and I really liked doing that.
Frierson: Every time you're getting taped up before practice, do you study what the trainers are doing?
Smith: Yeah, I pay attention all the time. I'm always watching what they're doing.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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