Colin Smalls, a graduate student guard hailing from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, said that being a homegrown talent playing in Washington, D.C. meant everything to him. His goal was to represent his home, while also solidifying American as a championship-winning basketball program in the District.
“I take all the D.C. games personal,” Smalls said. “I’ve been in situations where I’m out on a weekend, and we’re in the same place as students from Georgetown, George Washington and Howard. And they ask, ‘You guys play basketball?’ And we’re like ‘yeah.’ And they say, ‘My school’s better. Y’all the little bro school.’”
One of Smalls’ favorite memories of the season was his Hail Mary buzzer-beating 3-pointer from way beyond the arc against crosstown rival, George Washington University. The shot sent the game into overtime and eventually propelled the Eagles to a win.
But most people don’t know about what Smalls calls the funny backstory behind that shot.
In the off-season, Smalls was a part of the District’s Kenner League, where he matched up against some of the best local basketball players, including some players on the GW roster. In one of their summer games, a GW player began trash-talking Smalls.
After Smalls lost the game, the GW player asked him if he played at American. After responding yes, the GW player mentioned how the crosstown squads would match up that season. After enduring trash talk throughout the entire game, Smalls said he decided to simply respond, “Dec. 4. You better be ready.”
Once Dec. 4 came, the Eagles and Revolutionaries found themselves in a tight matchup. Toward the end of the game, American found itself down 2 with about 17 seconds left to play, and Revolutionary forward Darren Buchanan Jr. was at the free throw line with two shots. Buchanan Jr., nicknamed June, used to play on Smalls’ Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.
While at the line, Smalls started chirping June.
“I said, ‘Hey June, miss one of these free throws so we can make this interesting.’ So he made the first one, and I said, ‘Miss the second one so we can make this interesting bro, come on.’ Then he missed it. I’m like ‘bet, you just messed up,’” Smalls said.
The rest was history. After coming out of a timeout, Smalls hit one of the most memorable shots at home in Bender Arena.
Though it looked like a prayer of a shot, Smalls was confident that he was ready for the moment.
“It looked like I chucked it because it was so far, but that’s a shot I work on. If you ask any of those guys, they’d be like, ‘Colin left wing three? That’s his spot. It’s a good chance it’s going to go,’” Smalls said.
After sending the game to overtime, the Eagles came in and steam-rolled the Revolutionaries and went on to win 81-71.
“December 4 rolled around, and they thought it was sweet. Got it right with them,” Smalls said.
Smalls has been a steady force for the Eagles the past five years, but along the way, he’s battled through injuries and adversity.
During his senior year, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss many games that season. Though he made his way back and played at the end of the season, Smalls’ return wasn’t enough to push the Eagles over the edge to beat the Bucknell Bison in the 2024 Patriot League Quarterfinals — a game Smalls described as a heartbreaker.
Following the end of his senior year, he was at a crossroads in his collegiate career, deciding whether he had just played his last game or if he was going to run it back for one last ride with the Eagles.
“Colin came off an incomplete year, if you will, and he was motivated to get healthy and to prove something and to win,” assistant coach Isaiah Tate said.
And despite the Eagles losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament this year, Colin Smalls helped lead the team to their first Patriot League Tournament championship and NCAA bid in 11 years. Smalls stepped up in the playoffs when it mattered the most, solidifying himself as an All-Patriot League Tournament Team player.
“It’s funny because the night after the game in Dayton, a lot of guys were in the hotel lobby with family and friends kind of just processing,” Tate said. “I just looked at Colin and he was down here and he just had a smile on his face. And he was like ‘Hey man, we’re Patriot League Champions, and we went to the tournament. I’m good.’ You can tell sometimes when you meet the goal you had in mind for yourself, that there’s just a weight lifted off your shoulders and a very real moment of clarity and thankfulness. That’s what I saw from him.”
On all accounts from his coaches and teammates, Smalls was a strong leader and a consistent presence both on and off the court. But according to head coach Duane Simpkins, Smalls had the ability to lead the team without taking any attention away from others.
“He was the perfect complement to all the other voices and leadership styles. Matter of fact, he was just very steady,” Simpkins said. “He was very mature. There was never highs or lows with him off the court. He’s the same every single day. I think some employer is going to get a tremendous employee or executive or CEO.”
Smalls feels confident that the winning culture he’s helped instill in this program will continue on. He said the program already has the winning DNA necessary to succeed. He thinks with the incredible support from fans at Bender Arena and the recruiting and player development AU does, it’s the Eagles’ time to dominate the Patriot League.
Smalls will be graduating for the second time from American University’s Kogod School of Business this spring with a master’s degree in Marketing. Though he hasn’t ruled out the prospect of playing basketball overseas or coaching in the future, he’s put it to the side for now.
He will deeply miss his teammates and said that he’s made countless unforgettable memories, bonds and funny moments. Smalls leaves especially grateful for the support from his coaches and the University community.
However, Smalls is also ready to begin his professional career with the dream of becoming an entrepreneur. His goal is to give back to his community in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and open an athletic facility for kids like him to follow their basketball dreams.
“We’re a basketball school again. I’m DMV born and raised. It gives me chills. Being able to bring a championship to your hometown, you look back on your journey throughout the years. Where you played at, who you played with,” Smalls said.
This article was edited by Jack Stashower, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Hannah Langenfeld and Sabine Kanter-Huchting.
