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Happy on the sidelines: Kameron Smith loves hanging out in the La Cueva High School basketball gym.

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He may be smallest guy in the gym, but he wears the biggest smile.

That's because Kameron Smith loves hanging out in the La Cueva High School basketball gym where he can watch the boys practice up close. He feels special when he's there, and it shows in his face.

He hangs out on the sidelines where he can work on his jump shot too. At age 9, he feels like one of the gang. It helps that his dad is Nelson Smith, assistant coach to the legendary Frank Castillo, head coach at La Cueva.

"I ask my dad to bring me a lot, Õcause I like to watch the team," he said. "They work very hard."

In between stopping to tie his shoes, a new pair of Vans he got as a Christmas present, he dribbles and shoots at a side basket. But he always keeps an eye on the action and his favorite player.

"I like No. 32 (Mark Cosgrove) the most - I forgot his name - Õcause he is the best player I've ever seen." He takes another jumper then sits down to tie his shoe again.

Kameron, a third-grader at Petroglyph Elementary School, likes his time in the gym. "I'd rather be here a lot with my dad, but I can't come at night," he said.

And, of course, he wants to play for the Bears when he's in high school. "Coach Castillo is a good coach," he says.

So what about Dad?