Then and Now: Leander’s Joel Smith and Mark Nwakamma

February 2009: Leander, TX a bedroom community northwest of Austin has always been know for it’s football teams, most recently Texas Safety Blake Gideon who will likely go in this summer’s NFL Draft.  Basketball is another story.  However the stars aligned in the 2008-09 season as Senior Guard Joel Smith teamed up with Senior Post A.D. Jones and a promising sophomore forward named Mark Nwakamma.  They made Leander’s only meaningful run in the State Playoffs.

2011 Mark Nwakamma (l) and 2009 Joel Smith: Circa Feb 2009

January 2012: Fast forward three years later.  The two Leander and Texas D1 Ambassadors alumni are now pursuing their college careers and education on the East Coast.

Nwakamma is a 6’6″ freshman forward at the University of Hartford in the America East Conference. The true freshman is averaging almost 22 minutes per game, 7.6 ppg and 3.5rpg. Mark is intending on being a doctor.

Mark Nwakamma

Joel Smith is a Junior at Northeastern University in the Colonial Conference. Joel is the team’s leader and is headed towards an All Conference season. The 6’4″ guard is logging 33.5 mpg, scoring 12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 2.8 apg.  He loves living in Boston and is studying Business. 

Joel Smith

These are two of the finest young men to wear the black and orange of the Texas D1 Ambassadors and it’s no surprise to see them prospering on the court and in the classroom.-Coach Max Ivany