Shawn Smart
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Shawn Smart
| image =
| image_size =
| fullname = Shawn Smart
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|2|24}}
| birth_place = Apopka, Florida, United States
| height = {{convert|1.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Las Vegas Lights
| clubnumber = 20
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2022 | youthclubs1 = SIMA Gold
| collegeyears1 = 2022–2023
| college1 = Clemson Tigers
| collegecaps1 = 36
| collegegoals1 = 2
| years1 = 2024– | clubs1 = Las Vegas Lights | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 2
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = November 15, 2024
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Shawn Smart (born February 24, 2004) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship.
Career
= Youth and college =
Smart attended the Montverde Academy in Florida, where he was a teammate with Hamady Diop and Ousmane Sylla. In 2022, he attended Clemson University to play college soccer, where he went on to make 36 appearances, scoring two goals and tallying three assists.{{Cite web|url=https://clemsontigers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/shawn-smart/|title=Shawn Smart|date=July 25, 2022|website=Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site}} In 2023, Smart helped the Tigers to win the NCAA Division I College Cup with their victory against the University of Notre Dame, scoring the winning goal.{{Cite web|url=https://theclemsoninsider.com/2023/12/09/the-goal-that-sent-clemson-to-the-national-championship/|title=The Goal That Sent Clemson to the National Championship|date=December 9, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/clemson/olympic-sports/clemson-mens-soccer-to-play-for-national-championship|title=Clemson Men's Soccer to play for National Championship|first=Press|last=Release|date=December 9, 2023|website=Sports Illustrated Clemson Tigers News, Analysis and More}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2023/12/08/ncaa-mens-college-soccer-championship-clemson-west-virginia-college-cup/71811099007/|title=Clemson men's soccer back in national championship game after beating West Virginia 1-0|first=Todd|last=Shanesy|website=The Greenville News}}
= Professional =
After two years of college soccer, Smart left Clemon to sign his first professional contract, joining USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on February 26, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/news/2024/02/26/las-vegas-lights-fc-signs-college-cup-champion-shawn-smart/|title=Las Vegas Lights FC signs College Cup champion Shawn Smart}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerlasvegas.com/post/las-vegas-lights-fc-sign-shawn-smart|title=Las Vegas Lights FC sign Shawn Smart|website=www.soccerlasvegas.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://rubbingtherock.com/posts/clemson-tigers-news-demonte-capehart-shawn-smart-new-tech-01hqjqf6thmp|title=Clemson Tigers News: Demonte Capehart, Shawn Smart, New Tech|date=February 27, 2024|website=Rubbing the Rock}}
On December 21, 2024, Smart was selected 68th overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado Rapids.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-select-nine-players-in-2025-mls-superdraft-presented-by-adidas|title=Colorado Rapids select nine players in 2025 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas|first=Colorado|last=Rapids|website=Colorado Rapids}} However, he wasn't signed by Colorado and instead signed a two-year contract extension with Las Vegas Lights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1329603|title=Las Vegas Lights FC signs Shawn Smart to new contract|first=NICHOLAS MURRAY-|last=nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com|date=January 25, 2025|website=USL Championship}}
Honours
Clemson University
Personal
Shawn's sister, Shayla, plays college soccer at Wake Forest University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/high-school-soccer-article/mast:-super-group-highlights-event-makeover_aid47504|title=MAST: Super Group highlights event makeover | High School Soccer News|website=TopDrawerSoccer.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://godeacs.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/shayla-smart/6284|title=Shayla Smart - Women's Soccer|website=Wake Forest University Athletics}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/roster/shawn-smart/ Las Vegas Lights Profile]
{{Las Vegas Lights FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smart, Shawn}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Clemson Tigers men's soccer players
Category:Las Vegas Lights FC players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Montverde Academy alumni
Category:Soccer players from Florida
Category:Sportspeople from Apopka, Florida
Category:USL Championship players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Colorado Rapids draft picks
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