Photo By Kreationsbylm

By RayJaun Stelly

With a name such as Legend, you automatically turn heads when walking into any room, having said that it is a matter of what you do with the attention and opportunity that’s presented but none of that happens without putting in countless hours. Gaining attention locally and nationally, excelling in his opportunity, former Garfield Bulldog star Legend Smiley has taken his talents to nationally ranked school Link Academy.

Three years wearing the Bulldogs uniform, the 6-foot-5 185 pound shooting guard scored over 1,000 points, scoring 30 to secure a state championship against O’Dea High School as a sophomore and was named 3A State Tournament Most Valuable Player, multiple-time Metro League champion, alongside earning First-Team All-Metro honors and Most Valuable Player. 

In addition to having a strong showing playing for Seattle Rotary throughout the Nike EYBL circuit and at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, Smiley gained national attention and offers by excelling in his opportunity. A four-star prospect, No. 19 shooting guard in the country, and 87th overall player in the class of 2025 according to ESPN.

Photo By Aaron Walpole

Over the summer Smiley headed to Branson Missouri to join a Link Academy school that has produced 55 active Division I players, 14 current professionals, and won the 2023 Geico National Championship. In a year he will be headed to play Division I, has won a state championship back home, and dreams of playing professionally, Legend’s transition has been going smoothly.

”My transition has been good from practices, to the weights, the classroom, keeping that same level of hunger of when I was in Seattle, and bringing to Link Academy,” said Smiley. “My game is getting better day by day and in just three months my body got stronger, taller, I’ve put on more weight, more explosive and all-around game just keeps getting better and better.”

”Tighter handles, consistent shot and ability to create shots is at a high level and most importantly my defense really improved out here, I’m really taking pride in guarding and staying in front and I’m still getting better everyday perfecting my craft,” Smiley continued.

Photo By Vieagus Ortega

His ability to create for others when called upon, a three-level scorer, and finishing with either hand at the rim. Legend currently holds scholarship offers from University of San Francisco, Weber State, Utah State, Seattle University, Washington, Montana, UNLV, West Virginia, St. John’s, and USC. Even with his recruitment picking up as he hears from more schools outside of the ones who have offered him, Smiley has no date just yet on committing.

Legend expressed, “my recruitment has been ok, starting to pick up lately when I made my move to Link Academy, and as of right now there’s no exact date on when I’m committing.”

Finishing with a record of 26-7, Link Academy finished ranked fifth in the final 2023-24 boys’ high school basketball rankings according to ESPN. Smiley looks to bring his talented skill set to help add a national championship to his resume and another trophy to Link Academy, as he closes out his high school career.

“An individual goal I have is to dominate any and everybody no matter who is in front of me,” said Smiley. “Every time I step on that court they’re going to know who Legend Smiley is and as a team goal we are going to win a national championship.”