Episode 4, Season 1: Mastering the Mind - Loakkhae Uth-Smith on Overcoming Doubt, Building Resilience & Unlocking Elite Performance

In Episode 4 of The Royal Vision Podcast, we sit down with Loakkhae Uth-Smith to explore the mental strategies that fuel peak performance. Loakkhae shares his journey of overcoming obstacles, silencing self-doubt, and cultivating the resilience needed to rise above challenges.

Through this deep conversation, he reveals the habits, mindset shifts, and high-performance techniques that have helped him stay focused, adaptable, and driven in both his sport and life. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone striving for greatness, Loakkhae's insights on discipline, self-mastery, and mental toughness will empower you to break through limitations and achieve your full potential.

Tune in to unlock the mindset of champions and take your performance to the next level!

Loakkhae Uth-Smith

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Transcript

Coach Matthew: 0:00

Welcome to the Kingdom guys. This is episode four of the Royal Vision Podcast. I'm your host, coach Matthew. We got a very special guest today. He is a six five shooting guard out of Falling Waters, West Virginia. He made second team All epac last year as a junior. He's been playing varsity basketball at Spring Mills for the last three years, and he holds his school's record with six feet, five inches and high jump. So without further ado, let me introduce you guys. Loki o Smith. So I appreciate you. Thanks for having. Yep, of course. Cool, cool. How you doing man? I'm doing how? How you feeling? Good. Good. So just break it down. So you're a basketball player, you run track with basketball is your main sport? Yes sir. What kind of drew you to basketball?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 0:48

I've always been a soccer kid all my life, but my brother, just watching my two older brothers grow up, play basketball, just like. My eye was always stuck on it. It just looked so enjoyable to watch. And even when I was younger, just to pick up a ball for a little bit. And then around high school, I just tried out for the freshman team and then I made jv and then there were days where I just feel like I couldn't go without basketball. So it really just drew me to basketball and just like to the love I have for basketball today.

Coach Matthew: 1:13

So when did you start playing basketball?, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: Really? But I've been, I was like in rec league throughout middle school, but I got cut middle school year all throughout my middle school year. All throughout middle school. Yeah. So like freshman year was like my first time playing organized basketball. That's nuts.'cause I've really only had a chance to watch you over the last year and a half, but knowing that you got cut in middle school and now you're probably one of the best players in the state. Thank you. That's a, that's a comeback story right there in itself., and you say, you said you played soccer.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:42

Yes, sir. So you.

Coach Matthew: 1:44

So that was, so you started playing that four or five? Yeah. Okay. So walk me through that. What was it about soccer?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:49

My dad, like my dad was like, had a love for soccer, so that's my role model was like my dad. So like he just do what my dad does, just follow his footsteps. And then I was really good at soccer. Then, like I said though, like as my older brother's playing, I just got older. I just slowly started to grow and my athleticism slowly started to come to me. I just felt like basketball was like where I was at and I felt like I was picking up basketball way faster than I was like continuing to get better at soccer.

Coach Matthew: 2:17

So did you play soccer in high school? Yeah. Okay. So you're what, freshman? Freshman, sophomore year. Freshman? Sophomore year. And then your junior year. Okay. I got And then, so you have two older brothers. Are you the tallest out of all your brothers? Yes, sir. Okay.'cause I know like your dad, he's what? Like maybe 5, 5 9. Okay. So you just got like in the, because your mom's taller than your dad. Yeah, my, yeah, a little bit. Yeah. So you just got that, just that extra gene that got you the Yeah. The six five extra kid. Of course. Yeah. That's cool. That's cool. So how do you feel, what were some of the defining moments early in your career?'cause you've only been playing basketball for seven years. Yeah. That really shaped your mindset to be able to be where you're at right now.

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 3:01

I just know that you gotta work no matter what. So even when I see people that they think they're better than me, I'll have a mindset that I'm better than you no matter what. No matter who it is. So every time I step on a court, I compete to the best I can. Even if they're ranked higher than me, they got more offers than me, whatever it is. Yeah. It's just that I know that I want more to them at the end of the day.

Coach Matthew: 3:23

True. So starting off in middle school, so you were talking about how you got cut. Yeah. Every single year of middle school, every single year. Most kids, they quit. Yeah. What kind of kept you just going?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 3:35

my dad always tells me all the time to this day after, even after beginning, after the,, regional game, he was like, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Yeah I love that. You gotta work no matter what, who you are. So even with my talent, I have still, I still gotta continue to put the work in. So that's really what kind of set me apart from other people, I would say.

Coach Matthew: 3:53

Gotcha. And now, so like with middle school, they normally do cuts two days. Was it, walk me through, if you remember, I'm sure you do the cuts. Did you get cut the first day and then, the next year make it through to the second cut or,

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 4:06

I think it was Friday. We had Friday we came in the first practice, first tryout. And it felt fine. I felt like I did good. I was telling my mom went home, was telling something, I was excited, I felt like I was gonna make it then. Saturday, like early in the morning, went back, still thought I did good, brought me in the locker room and then gave me the slip walk of the door, opened up the slip and it just said I didn't make it. And it was like he's wishing me luck and whatnot. So yeah, it hurt. But I definitely took that like wholeheartedly. Yeah I'm glad, I'm really glad that, like I didn't make that team because I don't think I'd be where I am today if I made that team

Coach Matthew: 4:39

For sure. Like that. That's on, that's adversity at its fine. You talk about Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan got cut. Yeah. From his varsity basketball team and now he's one of the greatest, if not the greatest player in basketball history. So I mean that, that's definitely a Michael Jordan moment. And so how do you feel like your upbringing and your environment influenced the way you approach competition?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 5:00

Meaning like what around me?

Coach Matthew: 5:02

Yeah. So like your family, your , your brothers your mentors, your coaches. I

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 5:06

think mainly my family. Definitely a lot of a u coaches and rec coaches that I've had a close bond with. Even now I see them at the high school games. They're like, you're doing so good. Keep up the good work. But definitely my family, like they know what it takes to be at the next step. They know what it takes to like, be like, good at your sport. And my oldest brother went to Richmond in Virginia. Really? Yeah. Brought it back so he knows, especially what it takes to be like a star where at the high level. So I really look up to him in big ways. And my middle brother, he was just shifty AST kid. Like I think one of the shift hist kids I still see to this day. And it was just like inspirational knowing that how much of an athlete he is and like. How athletic my family is. Yeah. So I just inspired to be like every single one of them in their different ways.

Coach Matthew: 5:54

So where did your, , your, I guess your middle brother or second oldest brother, where did he go to? Did he play college sports? No. Okay.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:00

Yeah, he stopped after high school, but after, like he could've went somewhere if he really wanted to.

Coach Matthew: 6:05

Okay. And I guess he went to Spring Mill still?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:07

He went to,, he went to Millbrook. Millbrook and then came to Spring Mills for his last year. Yeah. Okay.

Coach Matthew: 6:11

I wonder how much older your brothers are than me., because I'm 20. I graduated in 2020, but

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:16

We're all three years apart. So my oldest brother is three years apart from my middle brother, and I'm three years apart from my middle brother.

Coach Matthew: 6:21

So your oldest brother would probably have graduated in like 2018? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Huh? I probably know him then. That's nuts. That's great. I would've never even thought that. Yeah. So you said each of your family members, those are like, they're pretty much all athletes said your dad played soccer. Your brother went to Richmond. Yeah,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:37

mom, my mom was multi-sport athlete in high school, soccer, basketball. She tried it all. Yeah.

Coach Matthew: 6:42

And then, so did your dad, did he play college sports? No, he just played soccer and

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:48

just soccer.

Coach Matthew: 6:49

That's cool. But

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 6:49

my dad also, I don't know if anybody else knows, but I'm Jamaican. Okay. So my dad came from Jamaica, like during high school all right. Like this whole like area to him was new. So

Coach Matthew: 6:59

I gotcha that's funny you say that.'cause that's where my dad's from. He's not from Jamaica. He's from, , Antigua, Virgin Islands, but he's from the Caribbean. Yeah. But that's like Caribbean. Yeah. That's cool. That's neat, man. I would've never guessed you were, now that I like looking back, I see your dad like, like I can see the Caribbean roots. That's cool. That's nuts., so what do you feel like some of the challenges athletes commonly face in early stages of career? I feel like you have a career.,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 7:20

I would say it's a lot of discouragement, like just, I feel but it's a lot of what around you. Oh, this kid's the same age as me, but he's, he has thousands of likes on Instagram. All this fame and clout. But it's like you can't really worry about anybody else. You can't compare yourself to anybody. You just gotta work on yourself. And, you never saw better than anybody else, so you know your weaknesses. So that's what you just need to improve on every day.

Coach Matthew: 7:43

Yeah. And do you feel, , so were there moments, especially early starting out where you just felt like giving up? Were there, 'cause I, there's a lot of kids, like I was talking about earlier that would just quit.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 7:56

I don't think I would say giving up, but as like deck you said like earlier just discouragement. It's like how much better can I really get? I'm getting better, but, so are they like, can I keep up with them? But I wouldn't say thought about really quitting. Yeah. It's just like, how much better can I get when they're increasing to get better too.

Coach Matthew: 8:15

And so like in, in those three years when you were getting cut what were you doing as far as practice goes to eventually make the team your freshman year?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 8:26

to be honest, really there's nothing special like. I was really just trying to go outside and just have a basketball in my hand as much as possible because I feel like even though I'm not working on anything specific just to have a ball in your hand is gonna help you so much more than anything else.

Coach Matthew: 8:41

Yeah. And I just think about I just, I find it nuts to learn that. I know I keep reiterating, but it just blows my mind.'cause I just see the player that you are today and it's just, he got cut in high school, but truly that's what made you who you are today. Of course. Yeah. So I guess what is something that, that's probably a moment you're grateful for? Very grateful. So could you walk me through that? Like the, just the feeling it puts you through,

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 9:10

just after, you got cut, like there's not much you can do, but just like I said, take it with a grain of salt. Yeah. And then go on with your day. But yeah. Definitely after I got cut, I definitely went outside and touched the basketball that day. But it's like now in life, every time I step on the court, like I think about you got cut, like you, you're never gonna get cut again.

Coach Matthew: 9:29

Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 9:29

I'm never gonna give anybody a reason to put doubt on me again.

Coach Matthew: 9:33

And walk me through like your pre-game ritual, like when you first step onto the court.

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 9:39

when I first step onto the court, , I try to give everybody DAPs on my team. If other team come with me, I'll give them DAPs show respect. But, , I always get down and pray 'cause I feel like without God, nothing's possible. So yeah, I pray that everybody stays healthy. I pray for both teams actually, that we have a good game. And just nobody has injuries and it's just a really good game that the fans can enjoy.

Coach Matthew: 9:58

For sure. And so do you, how do you feel like some of your personal experiences outside of sports have shaped the way that you compete?. Loakkhae Uth-Smith: Can How do you feel like personal experiences outside of sports have kinda shaped your mindset in the way you compete?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 10:15

I just think that I feel I have a very open mindset. So even when I hear like a English teacher telling me something, I tend to shape that into a sports mindset as well. Okay. Just because I feel like everything is useful in some sort of way. Yeah. So I try to reiterate what she said or he said in a sports mindset and be like, this is how I can use this in a sports mindset that I can think about it and be like, I need to do this.

Coach Matthew: 10:38

So you do a lot of reflecting. Yes. Pretty much. You kinda have a growth mindset where like you, you don't just take it at the surface, you dig deeper. You Hey, why does, how can I get this to work? Or why it's this work the way that it does? Yes sir. I

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 10:51

try to think about things at all levels.

Coach Matthew: 10:53

I gotcha. And. Do you feel like there's any lessons you learned early on that shape the way that you play sports or just go about life in general?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 11:02

Athletically or like in life?

Coach Matthew: 11:04

It can be anything.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 11:06

I think it's more a self lesson that I've taught myself. Like a mental, no, it's just people can doubt you, but you can't stay like you're not them. You know yourself. So you gotta believe in yourself. Don't let anybody else believe in you.

Coach Matthew: 11:17

And what do you feel like you've learned about yourself over the last seven years of playing basketball?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 11:23

Hate to lose. Yeah. That's why you just gotta go out there with that killer mindset every game and just try to do the best of your abilities and just work.

Coach Matthew: 11:31

Is there like a loss specifically that's ingrained in your mind that you think about a lot? Morgantown State Championship last

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 11:37

year.

Coach Matthew: 11:38

Okay. Walk me through that feeling.'cause that's your first year as a starter. Yeah. First time in the championship, a

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 11:42

starter. Great season. We went 25 and two that season. Prior to that, , 25, 24, no, my bad. 25 and one prior to that loss in the state championship game. And it was a great game. Close game, low scoring game. Yeah. Everybody's playing good. Probably the best defense of our team played. And just to see that inbound just go over our head. And then for him to catch that ball and shoot it at the buzzer Yeah. For the game, it's that's crazy.'cause that's not something like, you don't think that's gonna happen to you. Yeah. Yeah. It's a possibility, but you never gonna be like, oh, we're gonna lose to a buzzer beater right here. So Yeah. For that to happen it's it hurt, but it's like right after that, it is what it is. That's, that sports upsets happen all the time. Yeah. I don't know if you watch college basketball. Yeah. Auburn just lost a Texas a and MA few, a few weeks ago, yeah. Yeah, I heard about that. It's just you gotta do what you can do. So what happened? So you just gotta get back in the lab right after that.

Coach Matthew: 12:33

Yeah. So like how did you use that as fuel for this next season?'cause you guys are, granted, you lost the Morgantown again, and like one of those kind of, it was a game that it wasn't a hundred percent. You guys weren't a hundred percent there. But how do you feel like that fueled you for this season?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 12:48

just to know that people still think we're underdogs just because we didn't win a state championship when I think our whole entire team knows that we are the real number one and for sure we're really on top. So I think it really just fueled me, especially me, but I think the team, like we have, we still have stuff to prove.

Coach Matthew: 13:07

Yeah, because one thing I noticed being around Spring Mills is like, when you walk into that school, it's almost like you can feel the success Yeah. Is going out. You guys have a number one sticking out the window, the front of the school. Exactly. Like it's almost like Spring Mills is like Bread for Success. And you guys started off as a bit of you guys have always been like, oh, you're the ugly bird. The dirty bird, yeah. The., not, there's nothing good at Spring Mills. It walk me through the feeling of being a part of Spring Mills, despite you guys always have been, having been like, not considered not good or just nothing.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 13:44

I definitely wasn't on varsity in my freshman year for sure. But definitely as a sophomore, like just to even sit the bench, but like still see that we were winning even if we were winning games. We're winning games by 10 and to now be winning games by 40. Is it crazy? And it's just like that. I think that it's crazy to see like how much we developed And how Caleb and Max had developed and even I've developed and Zay coming up, a quasi coming up and everybody down to the bench has developed so slowly to become who we are today. That's just amazing to me

Coach Matthew: 14:13

because you guys have a brotherhood. Kind of explain your brotherhood to me.'cause

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 14:18

we, I feel like we do everything together. We go Coach six is a college game together, even outside of school like. Nothing team organized. A lot of us are still together doing something. Even if coaches isn't making us go to a basketball game, we're still going to the high school basketball games watching, like even when coach didn't require it for us, we all went to the,, middle school playoff game. And I think that like just shows how close we are.

Coach Matthew: 14:39

Yeah. It is there., is there anybody that you're on there that you're closer to? Or is it really just you guys are just like, I can get along with Max as well as I can get along with Zay?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 14:48

Yeah. I feel like it's definitely that, like it goes through a good show for the whole team. I could talk to anybody about anything if I really needed to.'cause I like, that's how close and compact we are.

Coach Matthew: 14:56

So you got, have one of those vibes where like you guys are looked as looked at as underdogs even though you're really number one Yeah. Together. So how do you feel like that made you guys closer?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 15:09

I think it made us closer because, just to go back a little bit, like I said, like we've all seen how much we've grown. To know, the work we put in and to still see some people like say, down on our name and just discredit the work we put in. And our names. It's it's not okay. We don't like to see that. So we go to practice every day and like we work our tail off to be number one so we can have that one up in the window.

Coach Matthew: 15:34

Yeah. And because you guys have gotten, like you said, you've been, you guys have pretty much done everything. I, you went to NC Live last summer. You went to VA live, , DC Live, right? Or I think you got invited, but I don't think you guys got to go, but you played in Capital Hoop Summer League because it kind Yeah. Played in the border league too and the border league. So it walked through, walk through that feeling, that experience.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 15:53

Those experiences are great experiences because not like this in any teams down in West Virginia, but like those NC teams, VA teams, DC teams. Yeah. They're like down to the bench. They're so athletic. And they're so agile. They're so like, quick and it's like you don't see too much of that down here, you have real good players down here like Keyshawn, Jamari, DJ side, Chris, you have so many good players down here. Xavier, Kirk, they're so good. Yeah. But it's like down there you have team full of those kids and it's it really helps the whole team develop. Like we took some losses down there and it's they weren't, they were hard losses, but it was like, they were good losses.'cause we learned.

Coach Matthew: 16:30

But you guys only lost one game, right?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 16:32

Yeah. We lost to, , we lost to North me, Isaiah Evans? They go to Duke,

Coach Matthew: 16:36

yes.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 16:37

His school.

Coach Matthew: 16:38

Okay. Because I remember 'cause I remember going down to NC Live with you guys. Yeah. I think that was the only game that you lost. Yeah. Because you guys dominate, even you guys even played a bad game at VA live and you still, you still won. Yeah., but what's been that experience playing against, like five star or four star recruits?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 16:55

I love that. I really wish there was more opportunities to do that. Like I said, I think that grows, that makes everybody grow stronger and it helps you get more physical and it's so much more exposure too that I feel like West Virginia doesn't have, which is s 'cause there's a lot of athletes like I just named prior, yeah, that should really be getting more opportunities. But it definitely helps everybody a lot that have to play against quicker defenders. Yeah, quicker defenders, better players offensively that could shoot drive or, and those kids down there are just more they're bigger overall, so it just helps everybody just develop their game.

Coach Matthew: 17:29

How do you feel like it's helped you? Do you feel like it's put a spotlight on you? Do you feel like you've gotten more, looks more opportunities because of it?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 17:37

Slightly? Yeah. I do think there's been like a couple of games where we've played, there's kids at three stars, four stars, and they're like actually good, but I had a good game that game too. But just because they're already committed or they have a offer doesn't mean that they're coaches aren't still looking at that game. I think it's definitely shown a little exposure

Coach Matthew: 17:55

for sure. So how do you feel like athletes develop such a strong mental game, and why do you feel like a mental strong mental game's so important?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 18:03

I feel like it's, it is real hard for athletes to develop a strong mental game because you can, I feel like you get mental therapy, but you can only talk to yourself in your head. Really. You can talk to me like physically. Yeah. But you can't, you don't know what I'm thinking. Yeah. So I think that's really like a self thing. And it's a, just like I said, a mindset thing, just to be strong after every, like even a miss, like you gotta get back, like short term memory, like defensive blow by, you just gotta get it back and you can't let one play affect you. And I think that's what I've worked on a lot. Through my career.

Coach Matthew: 18:36

So how do you feel like, , or I guess, what do you normally tell yourself or do you feel like an athlete would tell themselves too? Build up their mental game to build up their strong game?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 18:45

I would just say after. Even after every mistake, like especially shooting mistakes or like offensive mistakes. You just gotta you gotta say, that was a good shot. And just be like, you're gonna get it next time. My old a u coach used to tell me like, be shocked you missed. Don't be like, damn, I missed, you. Gotta be like, no way. I missed. And I think that helps a lot. That should go in every shot you take you think should go in.

Coach Matthew: 19:08

It's a confidence thing. Yeah. I've never actually, I like that. I wanna adopt that. Not for like sports who don't play anymore, but just things in life in general.'cause I feel like you can apply that to life, right? Yeah. How do you feel like you would apply that to life?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 19:19

Let's see. Wait, what? I said. Oh, snap.

Coach Matthew: 19:27

It's all right. We can just cut out. Come back. Don't worry about it. But yeah I like that. Just be shocked. You're, you missed. Yeah. It's almost bro, like I'm pretty good. I can't believe I missed that. Whatever. I'm gonna make the next one. Yeah, I got, I gotcha. That's, I'm gonna start, I'm gonna, I'm gonna adopt that. So you've gone through a lot of losses, a lot of setbacks. How do you feel like athletes build resilience just going through those,

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 19:52

without losses? I don't think you can really grow because you can't. Yeah. You win, win, but then you're just gonna have this mindset that winning win and winning. But if you lose, you have to think, why did we lose What happened here for us to lose? Or what happened? What did I do that affect us to lose? So you definitely have a lot more to reflect on if you lose than if you win.

Coach Matthew: 20:16

True.'cause

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 20:16

if you win, you could have 20 points, 30 mistakes, but you still won. So you're not gonna think about the mistakes you made. Yeah. As if you won, had a loss, had 10 points and the same amount of mistakes, you're gonna be like, I didn't play that good offensively, but I also had more mistakes. What can I do here to improve?

Coach Matthew: 20:36

Gotcha. Yeah that's true. And so for these last two years, you guys haven't lost a lot. Yes, sir. How do you feel like you've been able to really build up your game and work on your game despite not having any losses or very few?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 20:52

I think the, like I go back, I said like we just know how bad we really want it and how much doubters we still have at the end of the day. So even though we not losing games, that's our fuel. And Coach Lane tells us all the time don't take any team lightly. Like even this Jeffers game, like we might have been about 30 to the game before. Yeah. But you can't take anyone lightly because he says basketball's a game of run. So Yeah. One big run and then the game could be over.

Coach Matthew: 21:17

Yeah, that's true.'cause just playing in the epac, you guys played Jefferson, for a chance to go to the state championship and while you did win by 25, 30 points, there was a point where they were starting to catch back up a little bit. Yeah. And

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 21:29

they were on a run. Yeah. For

Coach Matthew: 21:31

sure. But how do you feel what role does self-talk have in the influence of, being able to play and perform at a high level?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 21:40

I be telling some of the, , JB kids on our team especially when it comes to shooting, like it's really a confidence thing. If you don't think you're gonna make it, you're not gonna make it. So I feel like if you just, like I said, talk to yourself like I said earlier no way I missed that shot. Like self-talk is really important, confidence is really important, but I feel like you have to confidence and like arrogance.

Coach Matthew: 22:00

True. True., I feel like confidence is one of those things where sometimes confidence gets in, gets confused with arrogance. Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 22:09

Or cockiness. Yeah. Or, yeah.

Coach Matthew: 22:11

But there's a difference between being confident and being cocky. Confidence is, Hey, you're my equal. But I know that I'm good. Arrogance is I'm better than you. You're nothing compared to me. Yeah. It's about,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 22:27

and I feel like sometimes it's like when you're cocky or like arrogant, like you try to belittle people, but yeah, you are confident, you can be confident in your own skills and still have confidence in somebody else or uplift anybody else.

Coach Matthew: 22:40

True. And how do you feel like you do that the best? You're talking about the JV kids. How do you feel like you maintain that balance between confidence and cockiness?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 22:49

Just try to let them know, because basketball is basketball, you're gonna have a little, like little arguments with your teammates. Oh, that's a bad shot. And even if it was a bad shot I don't tell 'em it's a bad shot. I'd be like, good shot. If I tell 'em it's a bad shot, I'd be like a bad shot. But get, you'll get it back, like passing up one look, you're always gonna get it back. Eventually you're going to get it back.

Coach Matthew: 23:09

Yeah. And being on JV for the first two, , two C or years., in high school, how do you feel like that really, how do you feel like the varsity players before you helped to, push you forward?

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 23:26

I feel like it was more just watching them more than it was physical and like them talking to me just because I seen what it took to play at that.'cause even JV and varsity, that's still different levels to me, being a JV player, varsity is the highest level I can compete at right now. So yeah, competing at the high of a level, just watching them play every game, watching them practice and like the reps they get, how serious they take the reps at practice. That's what I would say, helped me.

Coach Matthew: 23:52

So walk me through your training regime. Like how many days a week do you normally train basketball outside of practice, let's just say in the off season., so walk me through that.

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 24:02

I don't really have an inside gym to go to, but I do have an outside room. So like anytime the weather's not terrible, I just I go outside, just shoot if I can. Even if it's not for crazy long, I just like I said I can't go too many days without having a basketball in my hand without it feeling like odd.

Coach Matthew: 24:17

What's what do you feel like the longest amount of time you've ever zone without touching basketball? Can't be long,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 24:23

to be honest. Like I would say five days max, to be honest. At the most. Yeah. But last time I think it was that long was when I went to states for track last year and we, yeah, we went to states for track last year. We left Thursday. I didn't get back to Sunday. And the very next day, four days, the very next day you picked up a basketball. Yeah, that's

Coach Matthew: 24:42

dedication man. That's cool. And , speaking of track, so we were talking about how you have the state or not the state, the school high jump record.'cause you can jump out the gym, explain, walk me through that. What kind of made you choose to try out track?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 24:56

I've did track since I was little too, but I was, I always used to GP quicker when I was little, so I always ran and I really didn't know, like high jumping, long jumping, all that. Like extra stuff for track. I really just knew it was running until I got the eighth grade. When I got kept in the basketball team, I was like, at least there's track I can do freshman track. Yeah. So I went to track, had a little bit of height to me and the, he was like, you're pretty tall. Maybe you could do some high jump. And I was like, okay, I'll try high jump. And then and so just, it was just became fun and it's like when you're good and it is fun. It just makes it so much better. And you have you enjoy doing it more.

Coach Matthew: 25:33

That's true. And so I got So where'd you get your bounce from that?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 25:39

I'm, most of it is like, it is genetically. Yeah. It is really like genetics, but if you work, like it really helps too. My dad began normally to do like calves and like thighs and stuff. Okay. If you definitely work to it, it definitely gonna increase. But like I said in the interview after the game that one time, it's like the more you jump, the more your bounce is gonna increase.'cause you jump in even without weights, but your own body weight, that's a workout in itself. Like I think all my four years of doing track so far helped me increase my bounce for basketball. Just because that's true. I'm jumping over the, I'm jumping to the long jump pin, I'm jumping into the, , the mat for high jump. It's like just repetitive jumps and your body just gets used to that jump motion. That jump motion. Then it's it's so used to like jumping.

Coach Matthew: 26:22

And what is, do you know what your vertical is? I,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 26:25

no, I haven't got tested. You haven't? I, yeah. Don't know.

Coach Matthew: 26:27

Okay. Are you gonna keep it that way or are you gonna eventually just go get tested?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 26:30

I want to get it tested, but I like to not know.

Coach Matthew: 26:33

Okay. I got you.'cause it's probably

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 26:36

because then I feel like if I get told what it is, I feel like there's a ceiling.

Coach Matthew: 26:41

There's never a ceiling.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 26:42

That's not I agree. I like that there's never a ceiling.

Coach Matthew: 26:44

Never a ceiling. The goal is to break through the ceiling. Yeah. People say the sky's the limit. No, break through the sky. Yeah, break through the sky. But it's

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 26:50

also, I don't wanna know too, because what if it's higher now and then I go get tested somewhere else, and then it drops. Then it's what's going on?

Coach Matthew: 26:57

I gotcha. I gotcha. I got you. I like you said, it's all about mental talk. Of course. Yeah. All about mental talk. So how do you feel how can an athlete manage the highs and lows of competition without losing their focus?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 27:11

Meaning the winning and losing, is that what you Yeah, there's,

Coach Matthew: 27:14

Throughout you sports Yeah. You have wins and losses. Sometimes you have, maybe you got benched, maybe you were told, or maybe you got less minutes in a game. How do you feel like athletes navigate those highs and lows? Oh,

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 27:25

I feel like we keep bringing it up, but I feel like it's really important, like self-talk. Yeah. I got benched for a little bit last year and it was like. It was partially my fault 'cause I was in my head, but it's I would go home and talk to my dad and it's only thing you could do is go back, work harder. Go back, work harder. And it's not like I'm sitting at practice too. So every rep you get in practice, you gotta take it seriously. That's how you get your reps, that's how you show out.

Coach Matthew: 27:49

Yeah., but no, we do keep mentioning self-talk because that's one of the biggest things that, that I'm about and I preach. And that that's what got you to where you are is the things you tell yourself. Yeah. Really. Like I've never seen anybody continue going with their life by telling themselves that they suck, that they're terrible. Like it's the, you'll make the next one. It's the I can make the next shot. Exactly. I can't I, I am that good that that's what drives you. That's what fuels you to keep going. Another thing is why I said, what are your why's as far as like why you get on the court? Why do you keep going? Why do you want, I'm assuming you wanna play college basketball. Of course. Why do you wanna play further?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 28:25

My why is just, why not? Why not try to reach my highest ceiling? But like you said, there is no ceiling, so I'm gonna try to break through the cap that people think there is for me. Either that's being JUCO D two, but I think I'm D one. Yeah. And I think I can make it to the pro levels and some people might look at this and be like, he's crazy, but that's what they're going to think. And I just think my ceiling is so high and I just have a good support system around me that helps. Yeah, sure. Me believe in that. And like you said, with self-talk, like that helps with everything. Like not just sports, like in, in life in general. As a aspect. It's like self-talk can get you so far in life.

Coach Matthew: 29:04

Is there anything personally that's a why for you?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 29:09

Not really personally, but like I say my most personal thing is just like. To make my parents pro, yeah. I really do a lot for them, like I look up to them and like this in so many ways.

Coach Matthew: 29:19

For sure. I get you. It's like you're talking about wanting to go pro, what can I do for my family? Exactly. For these last 17, 18 years, these guys have showed up to all my games,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 29:33

pay so much money for so many things. Yeah. It's what can I do to work back? I just want to, yeah, just work hard and pay them back somehow some way.

Coach Matthew: 29:40

And one thing that I've realized just from doing stuff like this is the only limitations you that there ever are on you or those that you set upon yourself. And the Caleb in the first episode was talking about, pressure's a privilege of these people. Of course they come on onto you like, oh, you're not good. You can't. Playing the pros because it's not, it has nothing to do with you. It has their own insecurities. Yeah. Because it's beyond them. They can't see it possible.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 30:08

Exactly. But they also aren't in your shoes. They can't Yeah. Them telling you suck, you're not gonna make it. That doesn't affect how much work you put in. Yeah. That doesn't affect how college coaches and NBA Scouts, or G League scouts or pro scouts in general look at you. They don't care that, okay. You think he sucks? I think he, he's the piece to our team. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I just think that you just really have to like, just cancel everybody out and just think about you and just know like they're not you and you control your life.

Coach Matthew: 30:38

This episode of Royal Vision Podcast is sponsored by Trophies Plus here in Martinsburg. You can get embroidered hats, trophies, service awards, or even sublimated mugs to go check them out. They've been a part of my family for almost 30 years, and we love the support locally sourced in Martinsburg, West Virginia. For sure. And then you mentioned being the piece of the team, I think about Spring Mill's basketball, everybody's an integral part of the team, but one thing that gets the game going is always you. It's always you. I feel like you're the spark of the offense. You like the game doesn't start off without Loki hitting that three, you're low guy getting a, chase getting a fast or a steal. Loki getting a fast break dunk. So kinda walk me through that.

, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 31:19

I like, I think Zays definitely our energy guy. Yeah. But I like to have energy like you said, off those threes. Once I feel that three go in. It's every, all the noise out the window, anything, any minor thought in my head is out the window. It's I'm here now and I'm gonna show everybody what I'm made of. So yeah. Let's go.

Coach Matthew: 31:36

I noticed that your best games, and I think you're averaging about 18, 19 points a game this season. Yes, sir. , is. Within the first 30 seconds when you hit that first three, it can be right up on the line 21 feet, or it can be 25 feet. Yes sir. Soon as you hit that, it's like I can just see I don't wanna say aura, but it's just, it's it's just game time.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 31:56

Yeah. It is. Like I, yeah. I don't know how to explain that, but you can feel like, yeah, you can feel it on switching your body, like people talking basketball, like momentum changes and like going all runs. But I feel what you mean, like if the team, even if the team don't feel it, I feel like, yeah, I hit that shot, bro. Let me get it back. Let's lock him up on defense so I can get back, get another three. And that's what happened in the Jefferson game. Yeah. But I think that three everybody, I think that was a great game for the whole team, but for sure sat, I like all my energy, like just maxed out and then like we played good defense. Yeah. Got a steal. Chase got a good steal arm money with Chase and just Chase threw the line mile dunking. It's like all the energy roads, even more, it's the more plays you could connect. The more energy it feeds the team, but especially when you're home, it feeds the crowd and a lot of, and some kids that can't feed off their own self-talk and own energy Yeah. Feed off of a crowd. So that definitely helps when you have a crowd like going crazy.

Coach Matthew: 32:47

For sure.'cause you guys, if you could sell out a high school, you guys definitely would sell outta high school. Yes sir. What do you feel like fuels you? More self-talk or the crowd?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 32:59

Definitely in the beginning of the game. Self-talk like, 'cause if I think we're gonna go in here and lose, I'm not gonna have a good game.'cause yeah. I just feel like what my energy's gonna be down and whatnot, but throughout the game when I'm just like, I feel like I'm slowing down or I'm getting exhausted, then I hear the crowd go crazy. It's like right now do it for them. Like they're excited to watch it. So do it for them, pick up their pace. Keep your composure right now yeah, keep the energy up for them right now.

Coach Matthew: 33:26

What do you feel like, what's been the, your favorite game to play in as far as, let's say, atmosphere? John Hanley. John

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 33:36

Hanley, A couple weeks ago. Yes. Yes, sir. Okay.

Coach Matthew: 33:38

Kind of walk me through that.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 33:40

We were walking outta the locker room and it's like we have to say, excuse me, to get to the court it was crazy., we got there, there was a line. JB having was started. JB didn't start for another 40 minutes. It's that was crazy. And we're like, we're thinking it's gonna be we knew it was gonna be sold out, like to have tickets online. Yeah. That must mean it's gonna be a big game. But JB halftime, filled, we had kids from epac, we had kids from Winchester there and the way their student section is, it's like right behind the basket. So

Coach Matthew: 34:42

yeah,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 34:43

in the, , in overtime I'm shooting free throws in. It's I try not to let like the outside noise get to you, but it's like when you hear stomping and oh, it's just crazy. But that's a good feeling. Like you said, Caleb said pressure's a privilege. Yeah, that's a great thing. Like I love to feel like people are like doubting me even though they weren't really doubting me. They were just trying to gimme the miss. It's just like that means something like,

Coach Matthew: 35:04

and how do you stay focused during moments like that where. You're talking about, it's over time and you've gotta knock down free throws. How do you stay focused? How do you,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 35:14

because,, coach samples during the state championship game we miss some free throws and layups and it's every little especially free throws and labs, they're crucial. Like you can lose a game by one point. Yeah. But you miss a free throw in the third quarter. Yeah. If you would've made that one free throw or tied up, it's overtime. So it's like in that moment, it's not about how many points you have or anything else. It's like the team needs me, like

Coach Matthew: 35:38

Yeah,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 35:38

and especially in that game, it was more like I'm putting on for the state right now. Yeah. It was number one in Virginia. Number one a va. So it's like I'm putting on for the state. So hit this for the state was what I was thinking.

Coach Matthew: 35:49

And did you, I didn't, I wasn't at that game. Did you end up knocking out both those free throws on one for two? One for two?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 35:54

Kill me a little bit, but it's

Coach Matthew: 35:56

yeah,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 35:56

Got back on defense. Just had to do what I do.

Coach Matthew: 35:59

I got you. What are some common mental challenges you feel like athletes face throughout their career?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 36:04

Just, I would just say a lot of mental blocks. I feel like that's the biggest thing, like mental blocks or droughts, like shooting droughts. Or maybe if you're in football and you're not, you are a receiver. Not getting a ball that much. Why my quarterback not throwing me the ball or in any other sport that applies to like, just thinking that you're not good enough for the team or you're not good enough, like in your own head.

Coach Matthew: 36:31

So have you ever gone through personally any droughts and how, if you did, how did you overcome those?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 36:35

Last year was definitely my biggest drought, but it definitely was a lot harder because my first year playing varsity, so it's yeah, I didn't know how to take the little, like the little things. So but like I said earlier, like you try to show up, you gotta show up and still put in the work, like You just gotta show up. And even though I was like in game, I wasn't him or I felt like I wasn't good enough, it was like, that's what you think. But it was like, like you think right now I'm not good. But deep down, yeah, you know the level you can compete at, your on varsity for a reason, show everybody why you're on varsity

Coach Matthew: 37:08

and you still, you obviously ended up having a successful se season, making the second team all epac. Yes sir. Do you know the most threes you've ever made in a game?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 37:17

I'm gonna say seven. Seven against Morgantown at, yeah.

Coach Matthew: 38:15

Yeah. So it was 7, 7 3 pointers against Morgantown at home, so that's 20, I think you finished the game with 25 points. 25, yes sir. I think five rebounds, four assists, something or something around there. Walk me through that game.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 38:26

That game. That was another game with a lot of energy. Morgantown side wasn't patched because it was a Tuesday game they had to come down. Yeah. So it's it wasn't too much going on, but it was like knowing the stakes of that. And like I said, like earlier in the episode, like , underdog yeah, we were number two. Rightfully though we haven't, we hadn't proved yet that we should be number one, even though we knew our hearts were number one. So it's like we knew we had to go out there and play to the best of our ability. So I knew the team needed me offensively and defensively. Yeah. Even if I was on the bench, they needed me to be vocal and just be a vocal leader. So when I went out there, I just do what I do best. Shot that first three. And like I said, like when that one three goes in. Yeah, everything else goes out your mind. Like all the distractions and nerves go out your mind. It's it's go time.

Coach Matthew: 39:12

So you started on the bench? No, not that game. Nah, that game. I started that game. Oh, okay.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 39:16

And it's just, I hit that one, three and it was like, I just felt everything go away and I was like, it's go time. We're here. Let's show them we're made of. So that game was good and it was like everything, every time I shot the ball that game, it felt, it just felt good.

Coach Matthew: 39:29

Yeah.'cause you guys ended up winning 53 49. Yes sir. And then you ended up meeting them again in the state championship game. So with, , with basketball and, obviously shooting, jumping, you dunk like crazy too. Yes sir. And what do you feel like the best dunk that you've had in a game was?, Loakkhae Uth-Smith: ooh. I wanna say that windmill gets Huntington, but I feel like. I just I feel like that was a sa it was a Saturday game. Like the energy was low just because it was like, yeah. Nobody was there hunting him so far away. Anyway. Yeah. Yeah. But I wanna say that, go back to the Hanley game. I had a baseline dunk that, that baseline dunk at Hanley or the, my baseline rip against Martinsburg. At Martinsburg. Yeah. That one was like, I felt the energy and I feel like I felt everybody on the bird side just like in awe yeah I remember seeing that clip. I think you just, you practically floated, I'll be honest. It was like, like you, you rip baseline and you go and you dunk, but like. When the ball's going through the rim, you're still going up. Yeah. I

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 40:35

think, I think what the funniest thing is when I dunk is people would be like, bro, I didn't think you were gonna make that. You jumped from so far out. And it's in my mind I was like, you told me I jumped from far out. Like I felt like I was a little close.

Coach Matthew: 40:47

That's funny. But, and then with dunking comes, the chance of missing a dunks. How do you over, you've probably missed a dunk before. How do you, can you come back from missing a dunk?'cause that's a moment where it can be embarrassing. Sometimes

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 41:00

it's, you get especially when you dunk so much, you get used to that. And it's I miss dunks in prac in practice too. So it's like you can't just mope around 'cause you miss a dunk. Yeah. So you just really just gotta get back. And even like even in a big game, if you miss a dunk, it's like all the crowd was expecting to make that. Or if you're away there might laugh at you, but it's like. They're not in a game. Like you gotta get your head in the game and stop thinking about the outside noise.

Coach Matthew: 41:25

That's true. And I don't know if you're ever able to hear some of the outside noise. What do you feel like's a, like the craziest thing you've ever heard while playing a game?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 41:35

I would just say you suck with a lot of cuss words behind it. You're not good, this, et cetera, et cetera. Just a lot of cuss words behind it,

Coach Matthew: 41:42

or I know down in, , Parkersburg South. Oh,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 41:44

that's a good one.

Coach Matthew: 41:45

I know that they,, 'cause I got the experience that the student section's kind of crazy.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 41:50

They got some, they definitely say a lot. I couldn't say. Yeah, it's a little beyond cuss words, but

Coach Matthew: 41:55

Yeah, for sure.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 41:57

It's definitely 'cause you can you have breaks, like when the ball goes outta bounce, you have time, just like the, okay, catch your breath. Cool down for a second. If you're like too much energy, you're too high, you're like underwhelmed, overwhelmed, just cool down for a second, just like breathe. And it's like in that split second, you can hear a lot. You hear noise or you hear as a silence. But like in that moment, and park the R out, them taking a ball out, the student sessions right behind me. So of course, as any student session gonna do, they're gonna start chirping at you. And just like what they were saying it's funny though. It's yeah, how you come up with this on the spot like that. Like

Coach Matthew: 42:28

Yeah. Yeah. It's, or sometimes you see the signs like, yeah, they'll spend money on, that's the most beautiful part. They'll talk all the trash in the world, but then they're gonna go spend money on a big old sign with your face on it. That's what I'm saying. Crazy. So like that's supported. It's fine. It

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 42:42

is. It is definitely crazy. Like when they try to dig into your personal life. Yeah. And it's like y'all got a little too much time on your hands. But it's yeah. But it is, I feel like that's a good thing.'cause you too worried about me, but I'm not, I'm over here trying to hoop and

Coach Matthew: 43:03

Yeah, the craziest signs are like when they they're like, you're talking about digging into personal life and you show up at the game and here's a sign talking about some girl that you talk to.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 43:11

It's it's

Coach Matthew: 43:11

nuts

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 43:12

or it's something old. And it's like how you even know that? Yeah, I haven't thought about that in years and you pulling this back up. It's crazy.

Coach Matthew: 43:18

Or like digging off like a picture from your mom's Facebook. Like you it's crazy. But another, so moving on to like mindset. How do you feel like athletes recognize and reframe thoughts to create a more beneficial mindset?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 43:34

What do you mean recognize?

Coach Matthew: 43:35

So I feel like one of those things in order to become greater, to move towards greatness, it's all about being aware of what it is you're thinking, what it is you're doing. Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 43:44

I just feel like. To be aware, like I feel like I think more than like the average person thinks, to be honest. Like I think about everything deeply. If it's a bad thought or it's a good thought.

Coach Matthew: 43:55

Okay.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 43:56

Even even if somebody says something like I can't tell if they're being sarcastic. I feel like I try to think about it in both ways to feel like, oh, they were being negative or they were being positive.

Coach Matthew: 44:06

Oh, to empathize with them almost. Yeah. Okay, I see what you're saying. And what do you feel like some of the biggest mindset shifts have been in sports that led to success?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 44:20

Mindset shifts. Meaning as,

Coach Matthew: 44:23

so like moments where you, let's just take you in middle school, for instance. Yes sir. What's your mind, so the, that first time you get cut, sixth grade, what's that mindset shift that led to your success?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 44:38

Oh, just knowing that just knowing that I had higher beliefs in myself than he did. And it was just like I got cut. But my mindset shift was, I'm better than he thinks I am. I'm like, he thinks I am. So I'm gonna prove to him that I'm better than he thinks. I'm my mind's really shifting. Like I just like to try to keep the negative outta my life. Like I try to keep the negative and think of positive even in negative situations.

Coach Matthew: 45:05

So you almost kinda like prime your brain. Yeah. You do. You have that optimistic mindset. Yes, sir. Pretty much. One thing I I learned about priming and that's,'cause oftentimes what we do is we think about all the negative things and then what we walk around wondering why our life sucks, or we think our life sucks. But then when we start focusing on the positives Yes sir. That's when things really get better. How do you feel like talking about you? So how do you feel you prime your brain?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 45:32

I feel like. I feel like I, I just have a I have more support around me than some people, like most people do down to the teachers. Like I feel like I have a good relationship with most of my teachers. Yeah. And down to deep family, as in cousins, like even cousins, like younger than me or my age or older than me. I feel like they know where I want to get to in life too. So they like help me bring in positive mindsets. And it's like when you have so much positive in your mind, it's like it brings joy to you. So it really just it's really like hard. I feel like it's real hard to break like the positivity in my mind and whatnot.

Coach Matthew: 46:07

So Do you ever really feel any external pressure from, family, coaches, fans, anything like that?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 46:14

You definitely feel external pressure 'cause that's part of the sport. Yeah. You're gonna feel like, I feel like there's pressure in the beginning of every game because every game starts zero, zero. Every game. You new game, anything can happen. Even though your favorite win by 40 or you could be favorite or lose by 40, it's like there's pressure no matter what. Yeah.

Coach Matthew: 46:33

Yeah, I 'cause I just thinking about your positive mindset, 'cause I feel like you're the first person I've talked to that obviously I feel like all of them believed in themselves, but just having that overall positive mindset, that positive outlook, I just, I wondered how any negativity, it just seems like you're just like, it's almost like you have a bubble. You just deflect it out. Yeah. Get rid of it. So what are some key habits or strategies you feel like you you use or athletes would use to build that confidence to build that resilience?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 47:07

Ask me one more time so I can just process again Please. You're

Coach Matthew: 47:08

fine. You're fine. So what are key habits or strategies that athletes use to build confidence, build resilience?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 47:15

I feel like key habits like you, I feel like you just like. Become repetitive. And once you become repetitive, like it's just like practice when the more you practice, the better you're gonna get, the more results you're gonna see come in. So when you see the results start to kick in, your mindset will start to kick in. And it's crazy 'cause I just finished the essay on success Yeah. Today and it's like what it takes to be successful and it's like having a good mindset and making sure you're not trying to overachieve goals.

Coach Matthew: 47:46

Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 47:46

At a early stage, like obviously right now the end goal is the NBA, but that's overachieving right now because what I'm gonna do skip college and go to the NBA. So the goal right now is to get into a good college and then improve there and play good at a college level. And then that's when I'll try to achieve the next level of making it pro or higher.

Coach Matthew: 48:08

That's I actually never, I never considered that. That's good that, that's good. Thinking about not trying to overachieve knowing what your end goal is, but. In a way, not forgetting the steps before and the process that gets you to that point, I guess almost being great, like practicing gratitude, being grateful. Yes, sir. I like that. That's good. That's good. I'm glad that, I'm glad you wrote that essay. Yes sir. I'm glad you had to write that essay. That's awesome. So how do you feel like an athlete's belief system affects and shapes their ability to perform?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 48:39

Once again, going back to mindsets, like just really just gotta believe. Believe in yourself and it definitely helps when people believe in you. But yeah, like I said way earlier, like nobody believes in you more than you believe in yourself because you know what you're capable of.

Coach Matthew: 48:54

True. I remember that was one thing about me though. I used to never believe in myself. So you see me now, this is not who I used to be. I used to, I was in my head a lot. Sometimes still am, but I just, I think that's what. Why you guys, even though you're, I'm four or five years older than you, I think that's why you guys inspire me the most.'cause I see where you guys are sitting and and where you are and it's wow. To be that young and believe in yourself like that, it's, that's what like all these kids out there they look up to that. So Yes, sir. You, you should be proud of yourself. Just of that.'cause I feel like you're, you're a light to so many people out there. Yes, sir. Thank you. And so how do you feel you want to inspire kids through your story, through your game?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 49:40

I think I, I feel like when I talk about it, people are like, oh, he's like really trying to cop like Michael Jordan or something. But it's it's really not this is my story. Like I really did get cut. Yeah. And like really had to improve myself to become to where I am today. And it's like anything is possible. And like my, like I told you, my dad says hard work means talent when talent doesn't work hard. So yeah. If you work hard and just gain a positive mindset, I feel like anything is possible.

Coach Matthew: 50:07

That's true. That's true. So then with with being, playing sports, you, you played basketball, you played football this year. Yes sir. You run track. How do you balance that identity between the athlete but also, just Loki?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 50:22

I feel like Loki is sports is just a part of Loki, like I feel like I don't go any a single day if I don't pick up basketball. I definitely talked about basketball, like if I didn't pick up anything doing a football track. I definitely talked about sports in some sort of way, but it's I feel like I balance it because people, I feel like people know me too, so like people know that, like how dedicated I am and how much like sports mean to me. So it's not like people think of me as some different person when I'm not as like athlete, like I think people think of me as Loki's an athlete and like he's an outstanding kid. Like he's always trying to do the right thing.

Coach Matthew: 50:59

And so walk me through a little bit of your personal life. Like what do you do when you're not playing sports?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 51:03

I sleep. I sleep, I play the game a lot. But I like to spend time with my family. I like to go out to eat with my family as much as I can.'cause I know not every day is for sure. Yeah. Show as much love as I can.

Coach Matthew: 51:15

So where's, what's probably like your favorite place to eat? Like what's your favorite cuisine? I like crab, seafood. Seafood? Yeah. Okay. Now your dad's from Jamaica, so you got some Jamaican in you. Yeah. Does your dad like bring any like Caribbean cuisine? Of course, all the time. Yeah. So like rice and peas. You ever had rice and peas, cabbage,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 51:33

yeah. I all that. Yeah. Okay. Have you ever been curry? Yeah, Curry Go, Curry. Go. Okay. All that jerk chicken. Yeah.

Coach Matthew: 51:39

That's good stuff. Have you ever been to Jamaica? Have you been to Jamaica a few

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 51:42

times? Yeah. I plan on going this year too for my graduation. Okay,

Coach Matthew: 51:46

that's cool.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 51:47

That's fun. So like my,

Coach Matthew: 51:48

my uncle, he his wife's from Jamaica. Yeah. They've been married a couple years. That's awesome. It's nice to talk to somebody who has the kind of same heritage as me. Yeah. I've never, I don't meet a lot of people, never talked to a lot of people that, other than like my family that's from the Caribbean. So that's cool to have somebody close to home. Yeah. So what impacts, what impact do athletes have beyond your sports? So like for you, what impact do you feel like you have outside of basketball, football, outside of track my

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 52:13

impact I have on people,

Coach Matthew: 52:15

on people, on kids, on just anybody. I feel like

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 52:20

to try to like, just be there. So other people, family members, even friends, or even like younger ones can be like. I can look up to him and go to him if I need him and not be like arrogant, cocky, like we talked about earlier. Just yeah, kids know that I'm confident and like humble.

Coach Matthew: 52:37

And what do you feel is like the biggest impact you've made on a kid, on maybe somebody older than you? Is there like a moment that stands out to you the most? Outside

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 52:46

of sports?

Coach Matthew: 52:47

It could be inside of sports. It could be outside of sports. I

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 52:49

would say definitely inside of sports. Like after the games when little kids are like, can you sign this? Can you sign this? Okay. And it's of course I'm my sign it. Like even in the NBI see a lot of NBA players not signing it. And they sometimes I think it's like egotistic, but it's also I know they have a bigger bargain to deal with 'cause they, yeah. But it's I'm not gonna not sign something because I've been the little kid who's one of the signature and I've been the kid who's gotten his signature and seen other kids not get a signature. And I know oh man, why did he sign my thing? So I like, I'll just try to like. Sign as many things as I can. And I would sit there for hours, sign and things for little kids. If they ask me,

Coach Matthew: 53:24

if you're new to the kingdom or you just join the kingdom, be a king, be a queen, and go grab yourself some Kingdom Merch. We got t-shirts, sweatshirts, gym tank tops, both for men and for women. All of these materials, all of these clothes are made here in Ville, West Virginia, locally sourced locally made to go copy your kingdom merch. Appreciate you guys love y'all. That's, and that's something that happens after the games often. Yeah, often. What's probably the, what's the coolest or like craziest thing you feel like you've signed.'cause I know sometimes kids are like, can you sign my back? Can you sign my forehead? Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 54:00

I think it was a phone case. That's not a phone case. For real. Yeah. That's

Coach Matthew: 54:03

cool. One day you could have your own phone case. Yeah, that's which I hope you do. I have faith in you. That's my biggest thing is I'm one of those people where if you have a dream, let's go. Let's go do it. Yeah, let's go do it. I'll never tell somebody. Not that they can't or cannot do something.'cause there's a reason you have that dream. Of course. People the most successful people in the world talk about when you have a vision, when you have a dream, like it's there for a reason. Because it's something that you can do. Yeah. It's just, you don't know when it's gonna happen. You don't know how it's gonna happen. You just know you can do it. And belief system's the biggest thing. And part of that, I

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 54:35

feel like you're not gonna have that dream if it's not important to you. I wouldn't dream of playing at a high level if it wasn't important to me.

Coach Matthew: 54:43

People talk about like God putting that in you. I, God, that's God's playing for you. Yeah. Something greater or something gr something bigger. And then I don't think you have any chance of being done with sports anytime soon, but like, how do you, what's your plan for after sports? Let's just say plan after high school?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 54:59

Like where to go? Or just

Coach Matthew: 55:00

just, how do you feel? Like what do you see your, what do you see yourself doing in your life?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 55:05

I really just wanna be a role model for anybody. I can be wherever I go off the court, on the court. Or even if, God forbid, I stop playing basketball. Yeah. Injuries or just I go play track or something. Just just to do what I can at the highest level and be humble and grateful.

Coach Matthew: 55:21

Okay. And then is there like a job specifically that you would want if after basketball or let's say you didn't end up playing?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 55:31

I haven't, I definitely haven't thought too much into it, but I definitely wanna I would definitely wanna start some kind of business.

Coach Matthew: 55:36

Okay. I could see you honestly doing media. I know you do TikTok a little bit, so I could see you doing, sports media, sports broadcasting. Yes. Somewhere where there's a camera.'cause I think you, you have that personality for the camera. Yes. Thank you. And talking about injuries, I don't think, obviously you have, you have aches and pains from here and there, but one thing I really admire is. Your recovery routine, your preparation routine for your body. Because I see you've got like these knee compression things. Yes, sir. I think you even have leg sleeves too. I do, yes, sir. So kinda walk me through recovery for you. Oh, or just

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 56:12

recovery is definitely like one of the most important parts of being having longevity in your sport. And just like maintaining good, like just good athleticism in general. Like Travis Hunter, I've seen Travis Hunter, like they say, he, his recovery process is crazy. Like he has arm things in, he has leg things, knee things. And he is he's in hot tub, cold tub, like for an hour or whatnot. And it's I may not have all of that, but what I do have, I'm grateful to have, and it's like my, like you said, my knee compressions, like I have my leg massages and then it's I don't stretch too often, but it's like stretching really dead. Like I know when it, like, when I stretch, it helps a lot. Yeah. I have the massage gun. I have the roller just to roll myself out just so I can feel better.

Coach Matthew: 56:51

Yeah. And so walk me through. Your pre-game routine to get you, your body prepped, especially your legs for basketball?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 57:00

I feel like I'm I've always been an active kid, so I'm always more like, on game days, I feel like a lot more energy, obviously, like most people would. So I feel like I'm up more just like walking more. Some people say don't kill your legs, but I feel like me walking is not gonna kill my legs. Yeah. Even after some basketball games, my legs aren't dead tired. I feel like I still go like a whole nother quarter or two. So it's I be active early in the day, just stand up, walk around, just get my legs prepped. But I, during, like before the game, I drink some energy just not like monsters or anything like yeah. Healthy energy stuff to get my like body in the mood and flowing. Yeah. And then we do team stretches and that definitely that'll do it. Like the team stretches. Definitely. Just get me started.

Coach Matthew: 57:41

Do you do anything else like on your own before

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 57:44

I def I do. I do some, hip targeting things because Okay. Hips are part too.

Coach Matthew: 57:48

And then one thing I noticed, when you play, you wear these, like these raps around your knee. What are those for exactly?'cause I've seen a lot of players do that. They

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 57:57

call those patella bands on TikTok or wherever you find 'em at, but Okay. I think it's it's more with knee pains and I feel to be honest, it helps me like feel bouncier, I'm not gonna lie. Like I don't know if that's like scientifically proven or whatever, but I feel bouncier when I put those on. Almost

Coach Matthew: 58:10

like a compression thing? Yeah, like more blood circulation. But

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 58:13

I don't know how to say it. I don't want nobody funny, but it's o good sliders or something like that. Yeah. Your knee. So that's definitely what that, like they said, compresses that.

Coach Matthew: 58:21

Okay. So compresses that Patel tendon. Yeah. I gotcha. I see what you're saying. And then another thing I noticed is on your shooting hand the tape,

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 58:30

my right hand, right on your right hand. On your right hand.

Coach Matthew: 58:32

So it's your guide hand or your Valenti hand. It says. We, I'll let you say it. What does it say?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 58:38

It says if not, win now and God got me.

Coach Matthew: 58:42

And so what's what inspires you to do that? What drives you to write that in your hand?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 58:47

The, if not win now course. If you're not gonna try hard now, when are you gonna try hard?

Coach Matthew: 58:52

Okay. If

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 58:53

you're not gonna care now, when are you gonna care? And then God got me. I feel like it's pretty self-explanatory, like like I said earlier, like God is like the centerpiece of all things to me. And that's really important in my life.

Coach Matthew: 59:06

And, 'cause I remember the first time I ever saw it on your hand or playing a park, Parkersburg, it's a vivid moment playing at Parkersburg South sitting in the locker room and I look down at your hand and it says, if not now, when? Yes sir. And that inspired me a lot. And I think that's been, I think about honestly, every time I do something like this, every time I post a video, I think about that. Just like 'cause. Look, you've inspired me a lot. Just your routine. Just the the hand thing. Yes, sir. But where do you, where did it come from? Did some of you create it on your own or something?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 59:39

It didn't really start till kinda last year, okay, summer of going into this junior year. But I've always had wrist tape.

Coach Matthew: 59:48

Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 59:49

And then it got to a point to where I was riding, like God got me. It was always God got me.'cause God's always gonna have your back no matter what. God does everything for a reason. And then until one practice, my thumb got jammed and I was like, Ooh, we had a game. So I had our trainer wrap me. And then I just looked at it and it's it's pretty it's not bulky, but it's whole hand to like around here. Yeah. So it's like I had all this empty space and I'm like, what can I write? What can I do? So I wrote, God got me, but I'm looking at my, like the front of my hand, the back of my hand. It's I got all this space what am I gonna do with this?

Coach Matthew: 1:00:23

Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:00:24

And I just thought, and I was like, if not, when now, like that was and it just stuck with me. And that's one I'll always write.

Coach Matthew: 1:00:33

I like, and it's a good one. It's I think his name's Brian Tracy, he's a motivational speaker. He talks about the phrase, do it now. Do it now. Don't do it later. Don't do it. Yeah. Don't do

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:00:44

Nike, like just do it. Just Yeah. Yeah. But I feel like if you're not gonna do it now, like realistically when are you going to do it?

Coach Matthew: 1:00:51

Yeah. Yeah. It's one of those things where it's like an excuse I'll do it tomorrow. I'll do it later. Yeah. Do it now. Now. Do it now. What's, stop you

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:00:59

for doing it now, right? Yes sir. Yeah.

Coach Matthew: 1:01:01

And long term success beyond, what do you feel like long term success looks like for you beyond winning championships?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:01:09

Just being productive at the highest level and just being the athlete. I know I can be for whoever may need me. And just basically performing at the level that I know I can perform at, even though it might not be winning championships. It could even, it could be on a team, on a bad record, just as long as I know that I'm doing the best I can. I think that's what my long-term success is. Do the best that I can be in anything I do.

Coach Matthew: 1:01:33

And so what kind of impact do you wanna make off the court?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:01:37

Just to impact people's I wouldn't say I would ever like, wanna be a motivational speaker, but just impact people's mindsets. I don't like when people doubt their self.'cause I think Why do you doubt yourself? Even if people would be like, oh, we might lose this game. Like, why do you think that? And I think me and my family have a big thing. It's don't talk things into existence. Yeah. So it's don't think bad thoughts or you'll make it happen. So it's I don't want people to think bad thoughts.'cause like it's kinda like when it comes to shooting. Yeah. If you shoot, I'm gonna miss, I'm gonna miss You're gonna miss. Yeah.

Coach Matthew: 1:02:06

Yeah. One thing that people don't realize, people think one that every thought they have is theirs. Two, that thoughts are just thoughts. Yeah. No. Like thoughts will make you or break you. Thoughts will push you forward or pull you down. And when you're, and you seem to be pretty aware of your thoughts, plus you've got like that outside noise or positive outside noise for you too. But when you're aware of your thoughts, it, and you control what thoughts you have, it changes your life. Yeah, of course. Drastically. Of

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:02:38

course.

Coach Matthew: 1:02:39

And so what do you feel like, what are what kind of, walk me through what your what are your thoughts on a daily basis? What are the thoughts that kind of push you to keep going on a daily basis?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:02:48

I feel like this, what I would hope most people think about is just making, making a name for themself, like making their family proud for doing things for God and God's name. And just everybody else that looks up to you. And just try to make everybody that you can proud.

Coach Matthew: 1:03:02

And honestly you should have plenty of reasons to be proud of yourself. Yes, sir. I would be proud of you. Just 'cause, I, being able to get cut, not only once, not twice, three times. Yes sir. And then still come out there and then show up as, you're in the, probably the front running for Epec All Epec first team probably. Allstate first team. Yes, sir. And so like I said, the sky's not the limit. You just, you break through the sky. Yes, sir. Thank you. And how do you feel like an athlete defines their legacy and what do you personally wanna be remembered for?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:03:34

Just definitely just like. How athletic I was just like not, I wouldn't say like bounce wise or like shooting wise, just like that kid would, he could do it all. Like I was like, even though I might not be the best out there, yeah, he might think now I think I'm the best out there. But he could do it all. He would give it his all and just like to do it, do it to the level I do it at and still be humble and respectful. I feel that's kind what I'm really remember for,

Coach Matthew: 1:04:01

for sure. Because like I feel like there's a lot of things you are the best at. I feel like you're one of the best at jumping, best at Dunking and then also the best with your style. Yes sir. That's one thing. So that's one thing that I've noticed is you have really good style. So walk me through the inspiration for like your style, your on court swagger, off court swagger. Like my style of play

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:04:20

is that

Coach Matthew: 1:04:20

you asking? Style of play? Style of just like clothing wear. Because like right now, I mean you got the chain, you got here, you got the earrings, I you the nose piercing from time to time. So kinda walk me through that.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:04:29

I just think that comes from, I feel like I used to have a little bit of lower self-esteem when I was younger, like especially self appearance wise, but it's like to put clothes on and to, I'll just look at myself in the mirror and just be like, I feel good in these clothes. Yeah. I just like this outfit is me. But I also feel like I'm very aware, like clothes I couldn't wear, like some people wear jorts and I'm not knocking jorts, but I don't think I could ever rock a pair of jorts. Or some people wear like flannels and yeah. Some I'm just aware of what things I couldn't wear, like what I can wear. And then like, when it comes to like style and of course just I inspired by I'm inspired by like Kyrie and James Harden. They have a lot of, I feel like those two people have a lot of flair when it comes to basketball. But it's I know what they can do, that I can do, but it's yeah, I try to incorporate I wouldn't say their game, but it's like what I like, what I know I can do and I wouldn't say replicate them, but like tendencies of them.

Coach Matthew: 1:05:22

I definitely see, you mentioned James hard, I can see a bit of James Harden in your game, especially from the three point range. Yes, sir. I don't think, I don't know if I've ever seen you hit a step back, but I have seen you like, just kinda like the leg swing. The leg kick. Yes, sir. I see that in James Harden. And so for those like next generation of athletes, what advice would you give to them?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:05:42

Don't give up. Don't give up on yourself. If you have a dream, follow it. And going back to what I was talking about in success, make it relevant to what you want your dream is. But also increase it in small increments that are achievable.

Coach Matthew: 1:05:57

Okay. That's good. And for you after high school, so do you have any offers currently or do you have people, have you talked to anybody? Yeah I have a few. Yeah. Yes, sir. Okay. So like when making a decision for what, like what school you wanna play at the next level, what kind of, what's the thought process for that?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:06:15

I feel like everybody dealt no matter who it is and what sport you play, you want to go play. But it's like it's the next level. You're no longer playing with 18 year olds, 15 year olds. Like these are grown men. Like

Coach Matthew: 1:06:27

Yeah.

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:06:28

Like it's crazy to think, but some of those men might have kids like yeah. And you're fresh outta high school, so you can't think you're gonna go play like yeah, you of course you want to go play. You have that mindset. I'm better than anybody. I want to go play. But you have to be realistic with yourself and also be like, I'm new. These people have been here for two, three years, or maybe even four years.'cause with everything how college works, and this is I just really want to go to a program that can develop me, like to say, to reach the ceiling or break through my ceiling.

Coach Matthew: 1:06:55

Yeah. It caught me.'cause when you show up to college, you are just. One of the other guys. Yeah you're a bunch, you're around a bunch of people that were the best guys. And I feel like that can only elevate your game from there. So Of course. Yeah. What are you looking most forward to playing college basketball?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:07:13

I feel like the experience, I feel like we get to travel, we get to travel a lot for high school, but I feel like to travel for college and like to see like the, like I was talking about earlier with the VA and dc, like the athletes that they have, like half of those teams have team, like those kids were cts or Xavier Kers or Jamari or whoever. So in the Ppac are their team. But now there's a team full of me. There's a team full of kids that can dunk like me. Yeah. Shoot like a qua, handle the ball. Like post work, like CT aggressive, like Zay, like it's just like crazy that there's so many of them and it's like you think it's rare and it's one area, but then you just go one state over and then. Is a whole bunch of grown men with the same attributes as you.

Coach Matthew: 1:08:01

But that can only motivate you though. Exactly. Of course. Because I know you don't want to just show up and, sit. I mean it might happen of course, but like you wanna show up and I know you'll probably do everything you can to get on the court. Of course. Whether it's for five minutes or if it's for the entire 40 minute game. Yes, sir. One thing that I've taken away from this is just don't give up. Of course do not give up. Loki said, it's one of those things where you have got to persevere. You've got to persevere. No matter how many nos no. No matter how many times you're told no, no matter how many times you're told not this time keep going. That's the difference between being successful and not being successful. Yes, sir. Yeah. Loki, is there anything you'd like to tell the kingdom before we go?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:08:51

I would just say to add on to what he said, just have that mindset, like you know yourself better than anybody else, like your girlfriend, boyfriend, mom, dad. Like you still know yourself better than anybody else. So if anybody discouraged you to do anything like you know yourself, don't give up on your dreams.'cause if it's your dream, it's your dream for a reason and God made you your dream. So follow that dream and achieve that dream to become successful. So

Coach Matthew: 1:09:15

for sure. Now guys, you'll have a couple more chances to go see Loki in Spring Bowls. Cardinals play, they're heading off to the state tournament March the Tuesday. So that's March 19th. March 19th March. March 18th, March 19th. So you'll get a chance to go watch them play in the state tournament playing for their first state title in school History Start. Do you guys know who you play first?

Loakkhae Uth-Smith: 1:09:39

March Bird?

Coach Matthew: 1:09:40

Play Martinsburg because that's the eight seed. Oh, you, so you guys the one that the eight? Yeah. Yes sir. Look at that. So they'll be playing Martinsburg in Charleston, somebody in the epac. So that'll be a great game to go watch as they try to bring home a state title and make it back from what happened last year. So this has been Coach Matthew Loki u Smith has been the Royal Vision Podcast. Appreciate you guys being here. Peace out. Peace out.