Brothers Jaydan and Jaxon Smith are achieving their dream of sharing the court, while also proving to be an undeniable dynamic duo for the MSVU Mystics men’s basketball team.
By Breanna Lynk
The Smith brothers have been playing basketball together, on and off, ever since they were kids growing up in Beechville, Nova Scotia. “I started playing basketball around five or six years old, while Jay was always playing from the get-go,” notes Mystics team co-captain, Jaxon Smith. “We played together for the Community YMCA as kids and in high school as well, for Citadel High.”
The sport holds a special place for the Smith brothers. Their late father, Wade Smith, was an All-Canadian for StFX and a Canada Games gold medallist. Their mother, Sherry Jackson-Smith, was an All-Canadian and a two-time ACAA champion for the University of Kings College. “It was only a matter of time until the sport became as impactful for me as it was, and continues to be, for them,” remarks Jaxon.
Following in their familial footsteps, the two brothers would go on to have one shared season playing in the AUS for StFX, before Jaxon’s eventual transfer to MSVU resulted in them playing at separate schools.
Jaxon Smith - Photo credit: Dave Gallant
Being two years apart in age, the brothers acknowledge that while they have been able to play together to some degree, they’ve seldom had the opportunity to play any significant amount of minutes together. “There was always a want to play together, but there were always obstacles,” says Jaxon. “Like the work-to-rule strike that happened in 2016-17, or him [Jaydan] being a veteran guard for StFX, versus me being a rookie with less playing time.”
That is until Jaydan decided to join his brother at Mount Saint Vincent University. Having only played with the X-Men for three seasons before stepping away to focus on finishing his degree, Jaydan notes that he left StFX feeling reeling relatively unfulfilled from a basketball perspective. “I was in touch with Coach Danny [De Palma] throughout last season about the possibility of joining MSVU, as well as talking a lot about it with my brother, they welcomed the idea with open arms.”
Jaydan Smith - Photo credit: Dave Gallant
Jaxon, on the other hand, takes credit for successfully ‘planting the seed’ that led to his brothers’ decision. “It was basically mine and coach De Palma’s idea during last year, as Jay finished his degree at StFX and still had eligibility left. As a team, we were losing some veterans who played in that championship run we made in 2022, and in those losses, we found a need for some sure-handed guard play. After that, it wasn’t very hard to plant the seed for Jay that he could come to MSVU and we could get the chance to take the court together. Once it was all finalized, you couldn’t take the smile off my face.”
Speaking on his first season as a Mystic alongside his brother, Jaydan remarks that while this may not be the first time the brothers have played together, this is unlike any previous experience. “We’ve played on teams together before, but not in this capacity. This experience has been different because we are leaders on this team together, something that was new for us.”
“It’s been everything I could’ve hoped for,” says Jaxon, who is two years younger than his brother. “Our differences as players get to shine and there is also a sort of ‘zen’ between us, where we both understand how we like to make plays with the ball, and how to get it to each other in those spaces.”
The success of that unspoken understanding is evident in the brothers’ achievements this season. Jaydan and Jaxon were honoured to both be named to the ACAA second team all-conference. “It’s hard to put into words,” says Jaydan, regarding the ACAA recognition. “Jaxon and I both worked really hard this year, on and off the court to help this team be successful. To be able to both be all-stars as well as be a part of a championship team, it almost feels like a dream sometimes.”
Photo credit: Greg Ellison
“Being selected to the all-conference team alongside Jay was one of my proudest moments as a brother,” says Jaxon. “There’s actually a video of Jay walking back to his seat after receiving his award as I go up to get mine, where we dap each other up and hug. It really encapsulates how hyped we both were, on both sides, of winning and seeing each other win.”
Most recently, the pair were instrumental in securing the Mystics an ACAA championship win over the top-ranked St. Thomas University Tommies. After a hard-fought game where both brothers were standout players, the Mystics took home the title with a 91-90 overtime win, and Jaydan took home player of the game honours.
Photo credit: Greg Ellison
“Having Jaydan and Jaxon with the Mystics is like having two staff members who are also able to play on the court,” says Mystics head coach, Danny De Palma. “They both provide tremendous leadership with their high basketball IQ, are consistent with how they carry themselves daily, and come from a family of winners with great character. Having one Smith on any team would immediately make it better, but the fact we have two playing together has been a surreal journey.”
With the CCAA national championship on the horizon, there’s no doubt that the Smith brothers will be key players in their upcoming games. “There are often times Jaydan or Jaxon will say something in practice, in the locker room or in a huddle that the coaching staff is thinking,” says De Palma. “Their feel for the game is advanced, and as brothers they are able to play on the same wavelength effortlessly.”
Speaking on their prospects at a national level, Jaydan believes that the Mystics have the ability to compete with any team in the country. He notes that one of their biggest priorities should be to focus on the aspects within their control. “Our attitude, our effort and how we carry ourselves throughout the week are things we can control. This affects how we play and respond to adversity on the court. If we can control the controllables, we have a chance to do something special.”
He also feels it is important that he and his teammates pause and take in the moment. “It is a privilege to be where we are at this point in the season, to be a part of the elite eight, so just taking that all in and allowing it to set in is big for our group.”
Jaxon echoes his brother’s perspective, adding what he thinks may give the Mystics a competitive edge. “I feel we’re different in the fact that we have a full team of Nova Scotia players, and the cohesiveness that this unit has shown as our season has progressed is nothing to sweep under the rug. If we can stay together for a full 40 [minutes], I have no doubt we can make some noise.”
Be sure to tune into the first game of the 2023-24 CCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted by Mount Allison University on Wednesday, March 13th. The games will be streamed live at CCAA.vidflex.tv. The Mystics will first match-up will have them taking on Toronto’s Humber College Hawks, and the Smith brothers’ skills and dynamic teamwork are certain to make an impact.