Laurel's Jaden Smothers earns academic scholarship to St. Francis University

Eighteen-year-old Jaden Smothers, a product of Laurel's community basketball programs, is headed to St. Francis University in Pennsylvania on an academic scholarship and will join the school's basketball program. The profile highlighted Smothers' years at local facilities — including the Robert J. Depro Community Center and Damata Catholic High School — and described basketball as his outlet and path forward.

"I would just say just keep pushing every day. You never know who's watching," Smothers said, urging other teenagers in Laurel to use park and recreation facilities to develop skills and meet mentors. The segment framed his progression from local camps to college-level play as an example of the role recreation programs can play in supporting youth development.