Reyne Smith shares a close bond with his mother, Penny, who is a constant presence at his game
Reyne Smith is a standout player for the Louisville Cardinals, known for his remarkable shooting ability.
Highlights
- Reyne Smith called his mother, Penny Smith, in Tasmania, asking her to be part of March Madness.
- Penny Smith, fortunate to have experience in the travel industry, reached out to an old contact for help.
- Penny Joy is a haul truck driver at Grange Resources, working at the Savage River Mine.
On 22nd January, he set a Louisville record by hitting 10 three-pointers, finishing with a career-high 30 points.
Smith’s ability to score from beyond the arc has made him a crucial player for the team, helping drive their success this season.
Thus, Louisville has extended its winning streak to nine games, bringing their record to 15-5 overall and 8-1 in ACC play.
Reyne Smith’s Mother Penny Joy Smith, Is A Haul Truck Driver At Grange Resources
Reyne Smith makes the basketball court feel like home, often calling on the support of his family to inspire him as he racks up points on the scoreboard.
Two days before Selection Sunday, Reyne Smith called his mother, Penny Smith, in Tasmania, asking her to be part of March Madness.
He wanted her to attend the game, no matter where it was.
Penny knew they would make it work, and the game being on the West Coast made the trip more feasible for them.
While it’s common for a son to invite his mother to an NCAA Tournament game, what made this request special was the effort it took for Penny to travel from Australia to Spokane.
Traveling from Ulverstone, Australia, to Spokane, Washington, isn’t as easy as booking a flight online.
Penny Smith, fortunate to have experience in the travel industry, reached out to an old contact for help.
She immediately contacted her friend in the business to arrange a flight out of Australia as quickly as possible.
Her journey began with a brief flight from Tasmania to Melbourne, followed by a four-hour layover.
From there, she took a 15-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles.
After spending the night in LA, she flew to Seattle the following day and boarded a 40-minute shuttle flight to Spokane.
Penny didn’t make the trip alone—she brought two uncles and an aunt along to surprise Reyne at the team hotel. Reyne was thrilled by the unexpected visit.
His mom in the stands gave him a sense of comfort, like bringing a piece of home to the game.
As per Facebook bio, Penny Joy is a haul truck driver at Grange Resources, working at the Savage River Mine. She is from Ulverstone, Tasmania.
Reyne Smith has not discussed much about his father, though it is clear he is proud of growing up with his two brothers, Jakob and Campbell.
Jakob, Reyne Smith’s brother, works as a groundsman at the Devonport City Council.
Additional Information
- Reyne Smith played for Australia in the 2019 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship in New Caledonia, where he helped the team win a gold medal, averaging 11.6 points over five games.
- He also represented Australia in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, scoring an average of 7.1 points per game, including a standout 19-point performance against Puerto Rico.
- In the 2020 U-20 Australian National Championships, Smith shot nearly 50% from the three-point line and averaged 20.7 points per game.
- On March 30, 2024, Smith revealed that he would be joining the Louisville Cardinals for the 2024–25 season, following head coach Pat Kelsey from Charleston.
