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As UNC Asheville's Player of the Year last season, senior guard Bryan Smithson, or "Killa B", said he made the right choice in transferring from Middle Tennessee State.

"I'm thankful that I had the chance to play here," Smithson said. "It could have easily gone a whole different way with one decision, but things just kind of fell into place for me to be here."

According to his personal website, www.bryansmithson.com, basketball has been the one constant in Smithson's life.

After only two seasons at Middle Tennessee State University, conflicts between Smithson and his coaches left him looking for a new team.

"Things didn't work out for me at Tennessee," Smithson said. "I needed a school and UNCA had just lost a guy, so it was a good situation."

Bryan was pleased with the close proximity to his hometown of Kennesaw, GA, but the thing that stuck out most in his mind after his initial visit to UNCA was the camaraderie within the team.

"I've never been on a team where everybody gets along so well," Smithson said. "Everybody's been really great and supportive of each other, and I'm thankful I had the chance to play here."

Smithson started in 30 of 31 games last year, lead the Bulldogs in scoring, and leads the Big South in free throw shooting at 85.2 percent.

He scored in double figures in 24 games last season, and his coaches describe him as an excellent guard who does everything well.

Smithson will graduate with a business degree this May, but his ultimate goal is to play ball.

He is currently ranked 53rd out of 100 NCAA seniors featured on the Draft Express.

"Obviously I want to play professional basketball," Smithson said. "If I could be anywhere I'd like to stay at home and play for the Atlanta Hawks."

Of course competition at this level is tough, but tough is something Smithson is used to.

Throughout his life he has endured struggles including his parents divorce, financial hardships in his family, and a strained relationship with his father, all of which caused him to work even harder toward achieving his goals.

Smithson's older brother and roommate, Jason, is a strong supporter of his career.

"I think Bryan will achieve his goals," he says as he cooks dinner for them in their apartment. "I think overcoming these obstacles in his life built him up and made him realize what he needs to do to achieve goals not only in basketball, but in life in general. He learned that it's not always easy, but it can be done."

Bryan agrees that it won't be easy, but he remains determined.

"You've got approximately 340 teams, 12 guys on a roster and they're all going for the same spot; it's gonna be tough," Smithson said. "The first step is your team doing well. You always want your team to do well and everybody does well after that. There are also a lot of things after the season that include camps and workouts, and there are back up plans like teams overseas."

Aside from his athletic goals, Smithson has career plans as well.

"I'd like to go into some sort of athletic business, open a gym or a rec center to be able to give back," he said. "I'm not interested in a whole lot of profit from it, just that kids are able to play sports there."

Beneath his tough exterior, the tattoos and the intimidating game-face Bryan sports on the court, as he sits at home cooking dinner with Jason and their little black terrier, Max, it's obvious that there is a whole other side to Killa B. In a guestbook entry on his website, Bryan's mom points out that there are many great basketball players, but few with great character, and Smithson is one of those few.

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