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Smutna Making An Impact At NWC
Athletic talent and a brilliant mind … what’s not to like and envy about Trapper Adela Smutna?
Smutna, a freshman standout for the Trapper basketball team, came to Northwest College via a winding path from Czech Republic to Powell, made possible by a link to her homeland from the staff at Weber State University.
Dave Marek, an assistant coach with the Weber State men’s basketball team, is also from the Czech Republic and was aware of the talented Smutna from her play with the country’s national team. Marek gave a heads-up to second-year Trapper women’s coach Cam Levett and the rest, as they say, is being written in Trapper history.
Smutna, an engaging young woman of 20 with a quick and easy smile off the court, morphs into a warrior when the lights are up.
The lanky 6-footer has started every game for the Trappers while averaging nearly 13 points and six rebounds per game, said Levett. Smutna’s stats have been even better in Region IX play, the coach noted, as she’s averaged 17 points and 7.4 rebounds per regional contest.
She is currently No. 2 in the NJCAA with a free throw percentage, converting 75 of 85 chances for of 88.2%. The leader is at 95%, but has only attempted 22 tosses.
Levett loves his team’s Czech influence for versatility, made evident by those numbers.
She is Levett’s choice as the Trappers’ inbounder for her ball handling proficiency. The fact she’s a left-hander makes her more than a bit of a challenge. That’s both for defenders and, as the only southpaw on the squad, for the coach’s training drills where, to her, everything is happening backwards.
“We love to get the ball in her hands,” said Levett. “She’s shooting a high percentage from three and also gets to the free-throw line by attacking [the basket].”
That’s the “now” of Smutna. Her “then” begins with club play, starting at age 9.
As is typical in much of the world — but unlike the U.S. — sports in Czech Republic have no role in daily school life, which is reserved for rigorous academics.
What that means, among other things, is college scholarships do not exist in that world. And that brings the discussion to perhaps Smutna’s No. 1 motivation for leaving home so far behind: The opportunity to obtain an American education at a bargain price. She is a lock to be recruited by a four-year school and so, given her academic acumen, a bachelor’s degree is assured.
Now factor in Smutna’s 3.91, pre-business GPA as a Trapper. International students universally rate academic rigor to be much more challenging back home — wherever “home” may be — than is the case here. Smutna agrees.
“I like my classes,” she said, but acknowledged that “studying in America is easier” than back home.
However, basketball here “is faster and harder to play than in Czech,” she observed. “You work harder here.”
Hranice, a Czech community much like Powell in size, is home, where her father Radek and mother Iveta are located. From there she parlayed youth hoops into a berth on the Czech Republic’s national teams from age 16 until departing for Wyoming. Club play there is year-round, with games in Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Romania and others.
Among other assessments, the scouting report for her play in Europe reads: Adela is a swing player who can be effective as a guard or at the forward position. She is a good catch-and-shoot player and an excellent 3-point shooter. She has a quick release and good range on her jumper.
Because of how basketball is organized, Smutna typically had different teammates each season which is very unlike what her experience will be in Powell.
What about the food? That’s a standard question asked of international students.
It’s “better” here by Smutna’s assessment. “You have fast food” she said quickly with a shy grin. That commodity is largely absent in her country.
She’s catching on socially here, too.
“I went to Utah for Christmas with a teammate,” she said of her acceptance in America and Powell specifically.
What’s it like to be a player at Northwest?
“I love being a Trapper,” she answered immediately, punctuating her answer with a smile. “I like my teammates and I like my coach.”