ESU Men's Basketball to play Coaches vs. Cancer game in memory of Ryan Smith

East Stroudsburg University Athletics
·3 min read
ESU's Ryan Smith slams one in on Millersville during PSAC men's hoops action. Smith died March 22, 2021 after a battle with leukemia.
ESU's Ryan Smith slams one in on Millersville during PSAC men's hoops action. Smith died March 22, 2021 after a battle with leukemia.

EAST STROUDSBURG — The East Stroudsburg men's basketball team and coaching staff will be raising awareness for Coaches vs. Cancer through a Suits And Sneakers ® Week game on January 29 against Shippensburg.

Suits And Sneakers Week takes place January 24-30, 2022, with coaches designating a specific Suits And Sneakers Week game to raise funds and awareness. The Suits And Sneakers game on campus will be played between ESU and Shippensburg on January 29 at 3:00 p.m. inside Koehler Fieldhouse.

Fans are asked to wear orange to the ESU-Shippensburg doubleheader to show their support of the initiative, which is being held in memory of ESU men's basketball's Ryan Smith. Smith tragically passed away from acute myeloid leukemia in March 2021.

"We take part in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers every season," explained ESU head coach Jeff Wilson. "This year especially, we are playing the game in memory of Ryan Smith to help raise awareness for the fight against cancer. We encourage everyone to wear orange in memory of Ryan."

Related: East Stroudsburg University men's basketball's Ryan Smith dies from leukemia

Both ESU men's and women's basketball have been wearing "5" jersey patches with an orange ribbon in honor of Ryan Smith, whose number was 5 and leukemia awareness is represented with the color orange.

Smith was an inspiration to his teammates, coaches and the surrounding community through his fight and determination. In turn, he was supported by his teammates and classmates, through a fundraiser by ESU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee of RelentlesS t-shirts (emphasizing ESU's men's basketball team motto and Ryan's initials), and by his fellow competitors in the PSAC as several programs donated ticket receipts and other funds to Ryan and his family.

A provided photo of Ryan Smith from East Stroudsburg University Athletic Communications.
A provided photo of Ryan Smith from East Stroudsburg University Athletic Communications.

Smith averaged 16.9 points and 8.0 rebounds in helping lead the Warriors to the PSAC semifinals and the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2018-19. He had one of the top freshmen seasons in program history, ranking second at ESU in points (473), points per game, rebounds (225), rebounds per game, field goals (177) and free throws (107) among Warriors freshmen. He scored 20 points in 10 games, had 10 double-doubles, scored a career-high 31 points vs. Kutztown on February 27, 2019 and had 30 points and 13 rebounds in a 106-99 (OT) loss vs. West Liberty in the NCAA DII Tournament first round in what was his final collegiate game.

The contest features the top two teams in the PSAC East standings. ESU defeated Shippensburg earlier this month, 59-54.

The contest will be broadcasted locally on Blue Ridge TV 13, the PSAC Sports Digital Network and on Bigfoot Country Poconos 103.1 FM / 840 AM.

Strength of a Warrior: ESU's Ryan Smith battling leukemia

Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers ® Week (January 24-30, 2022) is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer. While coaching games during the week, coaches wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder of their support of the American Cancer Society.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The program empowers basketball and other athletic coaches to save lives from cancer by leveraging their community.

For over 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy: cancer.

With your passion and dedicated support, the impact has been felt in communities nationwide.

Through fundraising and education initiatives, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has supported the American Cancer Society in improving and saving lives from cancer in the US and worldwide. The fight isn't over and we need you on our team. For more information and to join coaches in the fight against cancer. visit coachesvscancer.org.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Coaches vs. Cancer game set for Jan. 29 in memory of Ryan Smith