The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/470359
MARCH 2015 ■ 77 ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING "If you watch them, there are certain things Cat is going to do and certain things Trevor is able to do," Smith said. "They told me to keep watching them and that will prove to me it can happen at NC State, more than anything. Actions speak louder than words, and they told me to watch the last few games. I saw how they did against two of the top ACC teams, and they did pretty good. It is definitely believable." Smith has colleges coast-to-coast tracking him, but grew up an NC State fan thanks to his grandmother. He said Louisville is the last program to begin the process, otherwise most of the schools have been locked in on him since the July evaluation period. Smith is averaging 22.2 points per game this season, with a high of 38 points against Orangeville Prep Dec. 29 at the HighScho- olOT.com Holiday Invitational at Raleigh Broughton High. Trinity won the NCISAA class 1-A state championship in 2014, and was aiming to repeat going into late February. "That is the balance he is trying to find," Trinity coach Heath Vandevender said. "That is the trust he has to develop in his team- mates. The other side of the coin is that his teammates have to be accountable to him to do their job. If they don't do their job, we'll go find someone else who can. I think he does a good job of when to facilitate and when to be a scorer." Vandevender has had other future Divi- sion I players come through his program, but none had the recruiting intensity that Smith will face. "We try to keep things in perspective," Vandevender said. "Dennis has been great. One of the things with him is he is very hum- ble. He's a clown and gets along with all his teammates. "The kid people see on the floor is much different than in the classroom, at the school and with his classmates." Vandevender said Smith rarely smiles on the court until he knows his team has won. Smith, though, tries to be a positive leader. "I know they feed off my energy, and a lot of guys look up to me, even though I'm not a senior," Smith said. "They look forward to me leading them into the games. If I go out there and am sluggish, they'll be sluggish. If I go out there at 100 percent, then they will too. "I just want to go out there and play, and I'll see if I have to take over at a certain point. "I do my best to keep my teammates in- volved in the game. It's a team sport, and that is how I approach it. I can only control what is in my hands and go out and play my game." ■ The Wolfpack's Chiropractic Consultant Can Now Be Yours PROUD WPC SUPPORTER SINCE 1994 Consultants For: Team Savannah N.C. State Olympic Athletes 309 W. Millbrook Road Suite 199 Raleigh 919-788-8881 12740 Spruce Tree Way Suite 103 Wakefield/Wake Forest 919-570-6160 www.teamchiro.com Dr. Lawrence Dodd, DC, MS, CCSP, CCEP NCSU Fullback 1983-1986 Dr. Matthew Crilley, DC, CCEP Dr. John Baird, DC On The Healing Edge of Health And Performance TEAM CHIROPRACTIC Sports Medicine Creedmoor Road Stonehenge Drive Sawmill Road Halstead Lane ( 919 ) 841-9586 raleighstrengthandfitness.com 7209 Creedmoor Road Suite 109 Raleigh, NC 27613 For regular reports on NC State basketball recruiting plus videos of Wolfpack commitments and targets visit TheWolfpacker.com.