It was signing day for senior point guard Ryan Smith (front, center), who signed a letter of intent Friday to play basketball for the University of Texas at Dallas Comets. Pictured are: front, parents David (left) and Barbara (right) Lowe and Ryan (center); and, back row, from left, Brownsboro Athletic Director John Settle and Bears head basketball coach Jeff Hutchins. Loyd Cook Photo Brownsboro High School saw its latest athlete sign with a college program Friday. Bears point guard Ryan Smith inked with the University of Texas at Dallas Comets.

The signing was held in the BHS library.

“He’s been the only (player) I’ve had as a fouryear letterman,” Bears head coach Jeff Hutchins said Friday. “He’s beeen a team captain, along with Jacob (McCarthy), the last two years.”

“He’s been the coach on the floor,” Hutchins added. “UT-Dallas has gotten themselves a great kid. I expect him to be successful there and he’ll win a lot of games for the Comets. He’s just a good kid.”

Ryan said he’s looking forward to playing for UTDallas, noting they run similar offensive and defensive schemes on the court that he has grown used to in high school.

“I’m looking forward to playing at the next level and getting the chance to live away from home,” he said. Ryan said having the opportunity to play sports at the college level will also put him immediately with other students in the same situation.

Ryan’s mother, Barbara Lowe said his move to the college portion of his life will be a change at home as he is her last child to leave the nest.

“It’ll be sad, (but) it’ll be quiet,” she said with a laugh. “And we’ll get to go to Dallas a lot to see him play and it’s a really good school, it’s very nice.”

Ryan also talked with Dallas Baptist University, LeTourneau, and Trinity Valley Community College before settling on UT-Dallas.

He said that the school’s most recent starting point guard just graduated from school and “he really played a lot.”

According to UT-Dallas’ Web site, the men’s basketball team was nationally ranked throughout the 2009-2010 school year and advanced to the NCAA Di- vision III “Sweet 16” for the second consecutive year this season.

The Comets are coming off a 24-6 season. They were 26-5 in the 2008- 2009 season, advancing to the “Elite 8” that year. The team is graduating five seniors this year.