PRINCETON, Ind. — Lexi Smith has a unique style. She is so smooth, you almost forget she is literally playing one-handed. When she catches a pass, she uses a nub to help balance the basketball. But nearly everything else is strictly with her left hand and amazingly quick feet. 

Lexi is the sparkplug of Princeton Community High School's girls' team. Without the sophomore on the court, the Tigers just don't have the same energy.

She also serves as a source of inspiration to countless young people who might not otherwise think they fit in.  She likes being different. 

Lexi was born with “rubber band syndrome,” in which the umbilical cord wrapped around her right arm and stopped its growth.

“I’ve never considered my arm a disability but a gift, and my parents always told me God made me special for a purpose to inspire others,” she said. 

Not only does she start at the point for Princeton, averaging 9.3 points per game, Lexi plays soccer, runs cross country and track and holds a 4.0 grade-point average as an honor student.

“If and when there was anything I thought I couldn’t accomplish at first, I found a way and taught myself with my parents encouraging me the whole way,” she said.

A commanding presence on the court, Lexi scored a career-high 18 points in the Tigers' 74-44 victory at Tell City on Nov. 27.

She has never ceased to amaze her parents, Brandi and Matt, since she was an infant.

“When it came to crawling she’d scoot on her butt, and she was faster than most babies with both hands that would crawl,” Brandi said. “She rode a bike early and walked early just ready to get moving and experience the world.”

When Lexi was in first grade, she taught herself how to cross the monkey bars.

“Where other kids would go hand-over-hand she’d do hand-nub-hand,” her mother said. “She practiced until she could cross to the other end with ease.”

When her parents took their three boys, Xavier, Phoenix and Jeriko, to practice baseball, she also participated.

“She learned to bat with one hand, how to catch, throw off the glove and throw,” Brandi said. “She excelled in soccer, track and cross country running at a young age.”

Whatever Lexi showed an interest in, her parents had words of encouragement.

“We knew she was capable of doing and excelling at anything she wanted to," her mother said. "In fifth grade she came to us and said I’m going to try out for the basketball team, we said go for it.”

Lexi not only made the team, she has been a starting point guard ever since.

“Last summer she tried out and made the travel team Ambition and was the starting point guard,” her mother said.

How does Smith overcome defenders overplaying her to one side in basketball? Simple. She’s so quick they can’t stop her, even though she can only dribble with one hand.

“She’s just a hard-nosed kid,” said Princeton coach Brittany Maners. “She’s a hard worker and an unbelievable athlete.”

Smith has the ability to change directions on a dime.

“I don’t think of her as having a disability,” Maners said.

In fact, Maners said, her daughter, Brynlee, idolizes Smith.

But Lexi’s journey hasn’t been easy – even though she may make it look that way. Lexi had to teach herself how to tie her own shoes and put up her own hair.

“If she ever came to me and said, ‘I can’t,’ which is rare, we would say ‘Hey, yes you can.’ We wouldn’t allow that phrase ‘I can’t’ to ever come out of her mouth,” her mother said.

Brandi’s great grandfather, Larry Turpin, gave Lexi baseball cards of Jim Abbott when she was 5 years old.

“She learned that if Jim could do this she could do anything she wanted to,” her mother said.

Abbott pitched 10 seasons at the Major League level, from 1989 to 1999, despite having been born without a right hand.

“Bethany Hamilton was a big one for her,” Brandi said. “She was a pro surfer whose arm was bit off by a shark. She survived — it was a miracle. She’s a beautiful lady. She taught herself to surf again with one arm. Went pro.”

Hamilton wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board,” which was adapted into the 2011 film “Soul Surfer.” She was also the subject of the 2013 documentary “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable.”

Princeton track and cross country coach Will Niederhaus said Lexi is a person who never makes excuses or complains.

“I believe this is how she inspires others,” Niederhaus said. “If you put in the work and commit to the process, good things will come. She does not allow the physical to hinder the mental. She believes she can do it and she does it.”

Princeton athletics director Jason Engelbrecht said Lexi embodies a student-athlete in every sense of the word.

“She is outstanding in the classroom and truly remarkable on the field of play,” Engelbrecht said. “Lexi has been a varsity athlete in four sports since her freshman year — soccer, cross country, basketball and track.”

It is difficult to determine her best sport, but Lexi likes basketball the best.

“She seems to exceed expectations at every turn,” Engelbrecht said. “Her story demands to be told. Overcoming obstacles and excelling regardless of a physical challenge serves as an inspiration to behold. Her will to succeed borders on the supernatural.”

Like many Princeton girls' basketball players, Lexi grew up in awe of Jackie Young, who sparked the Tigers to the Class 3A state championship in 2015, earning Miss Basketball honors and going on to play for Notre Dame and in the WNBA.

"Yes, Jackie Young is a big inspiration for us all," Lexi said. 

More:Indiana native Jackie Young helps propel U.S. to Olympic gold in women's 3-on-3 basketball

Having three younger brothers toughened her up.

"My parents are amazing — they have always encouraged me to follow my dreams, pushed me to work hard," Smith said. "They always told me I can do anything I want to do."

Contact Gordon Engelhardt by email at gordon.engelhardt@courierpress.com and follow him on Twitter @EngGordon.