Written by Tanya Terry, with featured photo of King Jo’Shaun-Robaire Smith with his mother Quan’Tahnece Smith by Tanya Terry
King Jo’Shaun-Robaire Smith, a young athlete from Flint, living with autism and ADHD, is competing in the Youth Athlete of the Year contest. Through dedication, practice and support from his family and community, he has developed skills in basketball and football while building confidence.
The contest progresses through preliminary and elimination rounds, with finals scheduled for October 16-22, 2026, and winner announcement by November 19, 2026. The grand prize includes $25,000 and features in advertising campaigns on CBS and Sports Illustrated.
King began playing basketball at age six, enjoying dribbling, shooting and layups.
One of his favorite players is Philadelphia 76ers Small Forward LeBron James. He also told the Courier another favorite player is Golden State Warriors Point Guard Stephen Curry – because of his long-range shooting ability.
King joined a local Salvation Army basketball team last school year.
He attends school with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to support his learning needs. This involves working one-on-one with a teacher. He described working with an IEP as “calm.”
He also practices his basketball skills four days a week and has “always enjoyed working out.”
When asked how school compares to playing on the basketball team he stated: “School is worse. Practice is nicer. It’s nice seeing friends.”
His mother, Quan’Tahnece Smith, explained that King’s early years involved challenges with verbal communication. The challenges were addressed through signing before King fully developed his speech.
In addition to basketball, King also enjoys art, gymnastics and the outdoors.
His interest in basketball was sparked by his family. His grandfather, Former NFL Player Fernando Smith, and uncle, Former NBA Player Antonio Smith, provide significant support and coaching, emphasizing healthy eating, workouts and discipline. The family believes that sports discipline correlates with life discipline and helps that it helps King manage his ADHD energy positively.
King had already made it to be within top 20 contestants within in group for the contest by publication time, placing third in his group at the time.
King’s cousin CJ Rison from Flint, also competing in the contest, is currently playing in Texas, and is a standout high school athlete. Rison traces his bloodline to another relative of King, former NFL Star Wide Receiver Andre Rison.
Mykel Darrough, owner and founder of Truly Grand and TGS NIL, serves as King’s mentor, focusing on teaching youth about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and providing mentorship.
Darrough also manages his own son. Cameron Darrough plays for the Minnesota State Spartans and recently won the Allen Aldridge Award for character on and off the field, as well as his community service.
“He’s a very intelligent kid for his age,” said Darrough of King, “He’s also very hard working. One thing that I’ve learned from just being able to advise him at this young is that if you teach King something, he listens and he implements it fast. He’s very good with communicating how he feels, what he wants. It’s not very often you see a kid that knows what he wants.”
When asked about winning, King expressed he would be happy and shared he would give money to homeless people.
His mother hopes the contest opens doors for other Flint youth, particularly those with special needs, emphasizing that children with disabilities deserve equal opportunities and inclusion in sports.
She shared that her other son, 5-year-old Prince Imannuel Tonio-Fernando Smith, who also has autism, does whatever he sees his brother King doing.
“The contest is something that I found while looking for more ways to continue advocating for children with ADHD, autism and special needs,” King’s mother said. “I worked for the Flint Community School school district as a paraprofessional. I also worked at the Boys and Girls Club and at the Kennedy Center. I just advocate for children. I met with Governor Gretchen Whitmer for the roundtable about preschool before she made it free. That’s just my wheelhouse. I advocate for children.
“So that’s how I found out about the competition. I was just looking into other competitions for kids and sports, and just helping bring awareness to the fact they can play sports too. And they should be included.”
The Youth Athlete of the Year contest is operated by Colossal Management, benefiting the Why Not You Foundation.
To vote for King for Youth Athlete of the Year, visit https://athleteoftheyear.org/2026/king-199f.
Kids seeking resources in the sports industry and families needing resources and understanding of how NIL works, or proper advisory may contact tgsnil.com.
