At just 17 years old, Najee Smothers is redefining what it means to overcome obstacles. Born with spina bifida, Najee has always been determined to live his dreams, no matter the challenges in his path. Neither his condition nor a lower leg amputation at the age of nine deterred him from becoming the best athlete he could be—a journey that has earned him recognition and accolades around the world.
This past October, Najee, a standout member of the DeKalb Silver Streaks wheelchair basketball team, was awarded the Most Valuable Player Overall League in Georgia at the sixth annual Adapted Sports Programs in Recreation and Education (ASPIRE) Awards in Atlanta. Hosted by the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP), the ASPIRE Awards recognize individuals and organizations making significant contributions to adapted sports nationwide.
“It felt great to win the award because I really felt like I was being seen by everyone,” said Najee. “Getting that award meant a lot to me because it shows how much [AAASP] actually cares, and they know what I can do.”
This isn’t the first time Najee’s talent has been recognized. Last year, he received the 2023 ASPIRE Male Athlete of the Year award for the AdaptED Sports League.
His athletic journey began at age six when someone noticed his incredible speed and encouraged him to join the DeKalb Silver Streaks wheelchair basketball team. The team is part of the DeKalb County School District’s adapted sports program.
“That’s how I got started, and I’ve loved it ever since,” he said.
Silver Streaks head coach Delton Schoates recalls Najee as an energetic child who immediately fell in love with the game.
“He loved being part of the team. A lot of the teams that we played fell in love with this cute little kid going up and down the court,” Coach Schoates said. “Sometimes he put his jersey on backward, and it kind of became his trademark.”
Assistant coach Everette Schoates praised Najee’s ability to learn and lead.
“He always had a desire to learn, and there was nothing that he wouldn’t try to do,” he said. “Najee has developed into a player-coach. He can coach the team, manage the team huddle, call timeouts, know the game, and know the rules of each game.”
When a burn on his left foot became infected at the age of nine, leading to the amputation of the lower half of his leg, Najee refused to let this setback slow him down. Instead, he expanded his athletic pursuits, becoming a multi-sport athlete participating in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair football, wheelchair handball, and wheelchair track and field.
His exceptional performance in wheelchair handball caught the eye of the USA National Wheelchair Handball Team. Invited to try out, Najee made the 10-person roster, becoming the youngest player on the team. In September, he traveled with the team to Egypt to compete in the International Handball Federation (IHF) Wheelchair Handball World Championships. Najee and the team returned home with the silver medal—a first for the national team.
“I really had fun helping out my team and cheering them on when I was on the sideline,” he said.
A junior at Grayson High School in Gwinnett County, Najee plans to attend college and continue his athletic career. He’s considering Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After college, he aspires to try out for the U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and continue playing for the national handball team.
Najee hopes his accomplishments inspire others facing similar challenges.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something,” he said. “Try and don’t give up.”
With exceptional determination and spirit, Najee Smothers is not just rolling past obstacles—he’s inspiring others to do the same, proving that no dream is out of reach.