Malyiah impressive in three sports at Gibbs

Eagles’ Turner sets three records

By Steve Williams

Malyiah Smith played three sports for Gibbs High in 2024-25, and she did well in all three.

The All-State shortstop and leadoff batter helped the Lady Eagles win the school’s 12th state softball championship and her second at the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.

Smith also played quarterback in the emerging sport of Girls Flag Football and placed 11th in the TSSAA girls’ state bowling tournament at Smyrna.

Gibbs Athletic Director Dustin Mynatt announced Smith as the school’s female Student-Athlete of the Year and Zack Turner as its male honoree.

Zack, who made the trip with other fellow students to support the Lady Eagles at the state tourney, excelled in basketball and has signed with Milligan University in Elizabethton.

Smith was a team leader for Gibbs in six categories during the season. That included a .590 batting average, 78 runs, 85 hits, 43 stolen bases and defensively 68 assists and 10 double plays.

Maliyah’s 78 runs ranked sixth in the nation and No. 1 in the state.

On the bowling lanes, Smith was selected the Girls Bowler of the Year for TSSAA Region 1 and District 2. It also was her second time to qualify for the state.

In academics, Maliyah was recognized as a NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.

Smith will continue her education and softball career at Carson-Newman University.

Turner’s basketball season started on fire as he set a single game scoring record with 48 points. The 5-10 shooting guard’s game averages for the year included 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals.

Zack was a TSSAA Mr. Basketball nominee and twice a District 4-3A Player of the Year. He also was a two-time Knoxville Focus / Coaches’ All-Knox County honoree.

Turner ended his prep career at Gibbs with a single season scoring record of 770 points and a career total of 2,219 points.

Off the court, Turner had a 3.82 GPA and was a Special Olympics volunteer all four years at GHS.