Alex Smith (lacrosse)

Alex Smith was born in the city of Timonium, Maryland, August 8, 1984, to Dr. Frederick G. Smith and Dr. Vanessa K. Smith, and is the oldest of three sons. He graduated from the Boys' Latin School of Maryland where he was a three-year starting midfielder. He won multiple awards while in high school, including First Team All-State, the Groundball Award, and the Gelston Cup Award.[1]

Smith played for Saint Joseph's University. He was named CAA Co-Rookie of the Year and second team All-CAA. He started 13 of 16 games and finished ranked second in the CAA and sixth in the NCAA in face-off percentage. He scooped up 105 groundballs to rank second in the CAA and fourth in the NCAA, and was named to the CAA All-Tournament team in 2004.

In 2005, Smith earned All-American honorable mention from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association as a sophomore face-off specialist and was voted first team All-CAA. He started 14 of 17 games and scored three goals with one assist. He led the NCAA and CAA in face-off percentage (.709), winning 251 of 354 attempts and set the school record with 251 wins and the .709 percentage ranked No. 3 all-time at Delaware. He won a season-high 23 face-offs vs. Albany. In the groundball category, he ranked No. 3 in the NCAA and led the CAA with 132 (7.76 per game). He would collect a season-high 16 groundballs vs. Albany, his season groundball total was third best in UD history. His goal versus Saint Joe's eight seconds into the game was an NCAA Division I Lacrosse record, for fastest goal. He was voted to the CAA All-Tournament team after winning 22 of 37 face-offs in two CAA tournament games.

In 2007, as a team captain, Smith led the Blue Hens to the NCAA final four in Baltimore, Maryland. The team lost to the eventual 2007 National Champion, Johns Hopkins, in the semi-finals.

Smith graduated from the University of Delaware with a major in business marketing and a minor in marketing. He was the only face-off man in NCAA history to win three consecutive awards from the NCAA for the best face-off win percentage for a season, averaging over 70% for those three consecutive years. After college, he briefly joined the Blue Hen coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2009 lacrosse season and in 2010 Smith was named to the Colonial Athletic Association Silver Anniversary Team.

Smith began his professional career for the Rochester Rattlers. He was selected with the third overall pick in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft.[2] Smith was elected to the 2007 MLL All-Star game, when face-off specialist Peter Vlahakis was unable to play due to an injury. As a rookie, he won Cascade Rookie of the Week twice, and was also awarded the Defensive Player of the Week once. At the conclusion of the regular season, Smith was selected as the MLL Rookie of the Year.[3]

During the 2007 NLL Entry Draft, Smith was selected with the 4th pick in the 3rd round, 32nd overall, by the expansion Boston Blazers.[4] When the Blazers announced that they would not play in the 2008 NLL season, a dispersal draft was held, and Smith was chosen in the third round by the Rochester Knighthawks.[5] Smith was released from the team prior to the start of the season.

On August 9, 2008, Smith set the single season mark for most face-offs (249) won in Major League Lacrosse history, surpassing Paul Cantabene's record of 238 face-offs, set in 2004. He also tallied the second best percentage all time, at 63%, just behind Cantabene's record of 63.3%, also set in 2004.[6] Following Smith's performance against the Machine he was named the MLL Defensive Player of the Week.[7]

In 2010, Smith played on the United States team that captured the Gold Medal in the FILA world games in Manchester England. In August 2010 his Major League Lacrosse team, the Chesapeake Bayhawks, captured the MLL Professional Championship. He also became the only face-off man in MLL history to be named to the ALL-MLL Team four consecutive years.

In August 2011, Smith won his 1000th face-off as a professional. He became the only player then in lacrosse to have 1000 wins as a collegian and professional. In 2012, Smith left the sport shortly after a Tommy John Surgery.

In September 2019 The Choptank, a restaurant in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore which is owned by Smith, implemented a dress code banning baggy clothing and brimless headgear among other items. A note at the bottom of the dress code stated that enforcement was up to the management's discretion. This led civil rights leaders to question if the dress code was racially motivated.[8]

In June 2020 another of Smith's restaurants, Ouzo Bay, faced scrutiny over whether it was selectively enforcing its dress code to prevent African Americans from being served.[9][10]