Erika Smith
| No. – Retired | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| Species | Cockatiel ( Cacatuidae ) |
| Gender | Female |
| Nickname(s) | |
| Cinnamon | |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Shoots | Left |
| Career information | |
| School | Avian University of Hawai'i at M'noa |
| FBA draft | 2017 / Undrafted |
| Player Contacts | |
| (IC) Agent | Herr Wozzeck |
| (OOC) Creator | Unknown |
| (OOC) Actor | Unknown |
| (OOC) Usage | Ask me before any use |
Biography
Erika Smith was always a rambunctious child growing up. In her native Huntington, West Virginia, she was known as always being the showiest person on campus. Many suspected it was her nature as a cockatiel that led to this: cockatiels were not always common in West Virginia, and all many people knew of birds was how showy they were.
However, if one would get close to Erika, they found in themselves a close confidant. It was easy to retain Erika as a friend, and once she befriended someone, she made sure to guard their closest secrets as best she could. There were even times where, in the case of particular friends, she would stand by them to make sure they did not feel alone.
This friendly nature of hers was her introduction to basketball. One of her close friends, Chris, happened to be the only avian on a middle school team full of other species. Chris came to her, concerned that they would form a pack against him, and uncertain of what to do. Perhaps not thinking her decision all the way through, Erika decided to join the basketball team herself: if her friend had another avian, they would leave him alone, of course.
Thus, Erika tried for the team. What neither she nor Chris seemed to realize was how well Erika took to the sport. She was a fast learner, and surprisingly agile around the court. Combine this with her showy nature, and she was a natural to fit on the team. It did, of course, have the desired effect Chris wanted, but the two of them quickly realized how naturally they acted as a double-team.
They subsequently took their basketball game to high school, eventually becoming the stars of their high school basketball team. Erika’s showy nature made her the more prominent of the two, but Chris complemented her perfectly: while Erika settled into a guard role, Chris became the sort of valet to her pop star, blocking the way for Erika to get a fast one on other players and to give an incredibly showy dunk. And their off-court friendship was certainly the source of rumors: many suspected the two of being together, but Erika and Chris always maintained that theirs was strictly friendship.
When graduation came, they vowed to each other they would meet again at the FBA. Erika was looking forward to this move: it was far from certain they would meet up as teammates, but throughout college on the opposite side of the country she counted the days where they would both declare for the draft. And when they met back up on the court, sparks would fly…