By Robert O'Brien
Oak Hill Academy offers more than basketball-but basketball success at the small Baptist academy has been sensational.
Since Steve Smith took over as head coach in 1985, he has compiled 604 wins and only 38 losses against top teams across the country-a 94 percent winning record. During that time, the Oak Hill Warriors have earned six national high school championships in such polls as USA TODAY and ESPN (1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2005)-more than any other team. They have finished second four times.
In 2004, USA TODAY named Smith as the national high school coach of the year for the third time-more than any other coach.
Oak Hill's program has produced 125 Division 1 college basketball players, 20 McDonald's (high school) All Americans, and 18 alumni drafted by the National Basketball Association. That includes Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse, Ron Mercer, DeSagana Diop and reigning NBA slam-dunk champion Josh Smith.
But leaders involved in Oak Hill's basketball program care about more than numbers. Players follow the same rules as all other students. They must focus on their studies, maintain good behavior-and attend worship services, regardless of their religion.
“Many of the players, especially the African Americans, have been brought up in a Baptist or other Christian church,” says Coach Smith's wife, Lisa Smith, who works in Oak Hill's academic and athletic offices. “Our foreign players are usually Catholic or Muslim.”
Like all the students, the players are exposed to church and to what Jesus Christ has to offer, she points out.
“All students, including players, are given a healthy respect for worship, taught morals and ethics and given spiritual guidelines they might not have received elsewhere,” she said.
Eddie Oliver, writing online for HoopsUSA, had this to say: “Oak Hill is always the dominant team, but they do not cheat and, with their reputation, they don't have to recruit. They are a legitimate learning institution [and] … Steve Smith is a quality person and an outstanding coach … .
“There is a place in this country for schools like Oak Hill [that] …help youngsters to get better grades or to get qualified for their college future-regardless if they play basketball or not.”
From Virginia Missions magazine
Robert O'Brien writes for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.