Athlete of the Week: DeShawn Harris-Smith

St. Paul VI is loaded with many talented players on their boys' basketball team, pushing them to the D.C. area's top ranking: The Panthers are back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships.

The pressure associated with a repeat is something that Senior DeShawn Harris-Smith is ready to handle.

"Pressure is what we strive for. That's what every basketball player wants, we want that pressure, you want all the spotlight on you," Harris-Smith said.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard says his mentality starts in practice.

"You got to make practice harder than a game," Harris-Smith said. "So in a game, it's not easy but like you've been there. So in practice, you're going to try to push yourself to make yourself uncomfortable so we can get the game as comfortable, it's second nature."

"Iron sharpens iron so we come in, we go after each other every single day we all try and make each other better. Every game every practice, no matter what it is, you want to come in like it's a championship because you wait so late in the postseason to try to turn on that switch, it's gonna be a little too late because everybody was gonna be practicing like it's the championship," Harris-Smith added.

Head Coach Glenn Farello said Harris-Smith embraces everything that has come with his time at Paul VI.

"DeShawn is always really appreciated all the things that we do just beyond basketball. Those opportunities, he embraces and then you watch the other kids buy into it too, because they see a leader and it's not just about basketball, there's so much more to it," Farello said.

Harris-Smith's leadership was apparent as the Panthers won the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase in London in December.

An experience that the senior relishes.

"We got to travel to London as a team to make memories that will last a lifetime that might be the one and only time like be able to get to London or even leave the country so we're doing is definitely a blessing," he said.

"Definitely try new foods and stuff but rather shy and get us out of conference. So in different foods over here time different candies and stuff like that. So that's probably my favorite part. And definitely winning," Harris-Smith added.

Harris-Smith has a sweet routine when it comes to basketball games.

"I eat Skittles before every game. When they call my name for what lineups I got to get a bag of skittles before everything. Just a handful, then when I come to the bench, I'll eat it as the game goes on," Harris-Smith chuckled.

Even though Harris-Smith is one of the top players in the country, and has a target on his back, he still works just as hard.

"I'm still in the same mentality because I feel like I'm the number one player in the country. I want to show everybody that so people coming after me but I'm not sure at the table the same way you coming at me," he said.