JR Smith article from slam
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Honestly, we're not sure what's harder-trying to guard JR Smith or trying to get him on the phone. We don't know first-hand about the former, but we can definitely vouch for the difficulty of the latter.
It took about two weeks, but we finally got the St. Benedict's (NJ) Prep star on the line in early December - by calling his UTEP-bound teammate Alex Galindo's cell phone. It took a series of mostly fruitless phone calls to both his high school and AAU coaches just to get that, and we couldn't reach JR directly because, we were told, he'd "lost" his cellie. Turns out the phone was actually in the possession of St. Benedict's coach (and former Seton Hall star) Dan Hurley. Did this mean JR was in the dog house? "Yeah, a lil' bit," he sheepishly confirms.
Being hard to find is nothing new for Smith, who spent time at three other Jersey high schools before finally settling at St. Benedict's last year. Now a fifth-year senior, JR has put his nomadic days (and a promising career as a D1-caliber wideout) behind him. St. Benedict's is the place, and basketball is officially his game. A consensus top-15 wing in the class of '04, Smith possesses one of the most explosive games in the nation. And at 6-6, 220, he shares nearly identical dimensions with his basketball hero - a fact that had more than a little to do with his college choice. "I've been a Jordan fan all my life, and Carolina's just done everything," says the Tar Heel signee. "They have more people in the NBA than any other school, and that's where I want to be. If I want to get to that level, I have to go through there."
A high school three who projects as a two in college, JR put his name among the nation's elite in the summer of '02. "That was the turning point of my whole career, I think," he says of his terrific AAU showing with the Tim Thomas Playaz. "We had a bunch of stars on that team, but they told me I had to step up. It was a gut-check thing." His summer success ensured his future was on the hardwood, not the gridiron, and he gave up football for good. "It's the hardest decision I've ever made - a lot harder than my college decision," he says. "But I want to play professional basketball, and I know I'm gonna have to spend a lot more time on it."
Path chosen, JR is focused on ending his prep career the right way. He says the no-nonsense Hurley was "a coach I needed to get with. Last season, my head got big a little bit, but he kept me straight." Smith says his handle and defensive focus still need work, but as he showed in his '03-04 season opener - 34 points, including 6 of 8 threes, 8 boards and 6 steals in a 55-point win - his game is in fairly good shape. Tracking him down for an interview wasn't easy, but as ACC foes will soon find out, guarding him isn't much fun, either.
It took about two weeks, but we finally got the St. Benedict's (NJ) Prep star on the line in early December - by calling his UTEP-bound teammate Alex Galindo's cell phone. It took a series of mostly fruitless phone calls to both his high school and AAU coaches just to get that, and we couldn't reach JR directly because, we were told, he'd "lost" his cellie. Turns out the phone was actually in the possession of St. Benedict's coach (and former Seton Hall star) Dan Hurley. Did this mean JR was in the dog house? "Yeah, a lil' bit," he sheepishly confirms.
Being hard to find is nothing new for Smith, who spent time at three other Jersey high schools before finally settling at St. Benedict's last year. Now a fifth-year senior, JR has put his nomadic days (and a promising career as a D1-caliber wideout) behind him. St. Benedict's is the place, and basketball is officially his game. A consensus top-15 wing in the class of '04, Smith possesses one of the most explosive games in the nation. And at 6-6, 220, he shares nearly identical dimensions with his basketball hero - a fact that had more than a little to do with his college choice. "I've been a Jordan fan all my life, and Carolina's just done everything," says the Tar Heel signee. "They have more people in the NBA than any other school, and that's where I want to be. If I want to get to that level, I have to go through there."
A high school three who projects as a two in college, JR put his name among the nation's elite in the summer of '02. "That was the turning point of my whole career, I think," he says of his terrific AAU showing with the Tim Thomas Playaz. "We had a bunch of stars on that team, but they told me I had to step up. It was a gut-check thing." His summer success ensured his future was on the hardwood, not the gridiron, and he gave up football for good. "It's the hardest decision I've ever made - a lot harder than my college decision," he says. "But I want to play professional basketball, and I know I'm gonna have to spend a lot more time on it."
Path chosen, JR is focused on ending his prep career the right way. He says the no-nonsense Hurley was "a coach I needed to get with. Last season, my head got big a little bit, but he kept me straight." Smith says his handle and defensive focus still need work, but as he showed in his '03-04 season opener - 34 points, including 6 of 8 threes, 8 boards and 6 steals in a 55-point win - his game is in fairly good shape. Tracking him down for an interview wasn't easy, but as ACC foes will soon find out, guarding him isn't much fun, either.
