The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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40 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2016-17 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is chasing his dreams one step at a time. Smith has the flashiness and exciting athleticism that draws the spotlight, and the personality to welcome the attention. From playing hoops with fa- mous rapper J. Cole of Fayetteville, N.C., to battling NBA players at various guard camps, he's had an exciting last year, and that was while recovering from injury. H e a d i n g i n t o his senior year of high school, Smith dreamed of compet- ing for another inde- pendent school state title at Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian and then going on a victory lap at the various all-star contests, like the McDonald's All- American Game. Instead, Smith tore his ACL on Aug. 2, 2015, at adidas Nations in the Los Angeles area, which dashed his senior year. He could have been a well-known "assistant coach" for Trinity Christian and rehabbed his injury at home. However, he chose another option — graduating in December 2015 and enrolling at NC State. That ensured he could recover under the watchful eye of the Wolfpack bas- ketball and training staff. Smith soaked in what he could from the bench and started playing again early last spring. He turned it loose during a pickup game with some friends at Fayetteville State, which gave him that extra boost of confi- dence that he was back. Smith later attended the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp for college and prep players in late June, and then made a triumphant return to adidas Nations as a college camp coun- selor for his one-year anniversary of when he injured his knee. "I've worked hard, and I believe that hard work will pay off," Smith said. "I have the utmost confidence in myself. "We can be very good and very scary, but right now, we are overlooked." Smith's grandmother is a hardcore Wolf- pack fan, which played a role in his recruit- ment. He had the option of attending any school in the country, but has embraced the underdog role at NC State. He is looking for- ward to opening the season against Georgia Southern Nov. 11, with his grandmother and family in attendance at PNC Arena. "She has been an NC State fan for a long time, but hasn't been to too many games," Smith said. "Now, her grandson is going to play. It's going to be very exciting for her." Smith is poised to claim his spot as one of the elite players in college basketball, and NC State is along for the ride. "I think Dennis Smith is the best guard in the country, period, hands down," NC State head coach Mark Gottfried said. "But he is still a freshman, and he has to learn. "There is still a learning curve, even for those players that are really talented." The veteran coach understands how rare it is to coach a player with Smith's abilities and has vowed to push him hard. He clearly believes Smith is ready for the attention that will come this season. "I don't think he's a player that shies away from the spotlight," Gottfried said. "He's not afraid of that. He wants that, and he likes the challenge. He likes to set his goals really high and go find a way to get them." Gottfried has landed his fair share of five- star players over the years. Prep Stars ranked small forward Gerald Wallace No. 1 in the class of 2000 when he signed with Gottfried and Alabama. Rivals.com ranked Crimson Tide signee Richard Hendrix No. 9 in the class of 2005. NC State signed Rodney Pur- vis and T.J. Warren, who were ranked No. 12 and No. 17, respectively, in the class of 2012. The hype surrounding Smith appears to be at a different level than Gottfried's past star recruits. "Gerald Wallace, there was a lot of atten- tion around him, but Dennis legitimately, realistically, is the kind of player with a great year could be the No. 1 pick in the draft," Gottfried said. "I believe that, and I've told people that. He and I have talked about it." Many of the NC State players have their own Smith stories from over the years. It could be playing with or against him on the prep level, or how difficult it is trying to navi- gate through Crabtree Valley Mall with him in Raleigh. NCSU sophomore small forward Shaun Kirk is the one player on the roster who knows what it is like to play with Smith in a competitive game. They squared off on the prep level when Trinity Christian played Red Springs (N.C.) Flora MacDonald dur- ing Kirk's junior year. Smith and Kirk were also teammates for a pair of weekends with Team Loaded NC, which helped Kirk land a Wolfpack schol- arship in April 2015. "I was probably 15 when I first played against Dennis and then with Dennis," Kirk said. "Playing with him is very fun. He knows all the spots where people can be on the court. It just clicks chemistry-wise." Kirk said Smith's personality is "amazing" due to his ability to handle the fame and dis- tractions that have come his way. "For him to have that, he's very blessed, but he is also very humble about it," said Kirk. "That is what makes it very special for him." NCSU fifth-year senior shooting guard Terry Henderson remembers playing against Smith, then an eighth grader on the varsity at Fayetteville (N.C.) Freedom Christian. "Dennis is a one of a kind type of kid," Henderson said. "Those kind of kids only come around in a few generations. "Being a part of his journey is a blessing and a honor. I'm just proud of him, but he knows he has a lot of weight on his shoulders. We are all going to follow his lead." Henderson is savvy enough to know that going to the mall with Smith isn't an ordinary trip. It isn't the first time Henderson has hung out with a superstar. He is close friends with former NC State standout T.J. Warren, who went on to be a lottery pick as the No. 14 overall selection, by the Phoenix Suns, in the NBA Draft. War- ren was intrigued with the spotlight while in college, but rarely embraced it. "Dennis and T.J. are two different person- alities," Henderson said. "Dennis is more outgoing and will come up and start a con- versation, while T.J. is more on the shy side. "Dennis is a celebrity in North Carolina, and that is only going to get bigger. The sky is the limit for him." NCSU redshirt sophomore guard Torin Dorn remembered playing on the same team with Smith when he was a prep freshman participating in the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge in Raleigh. Dorn didn't know whom Smith was going into the event, but he quickly learned more about him over the "I think Dennis Smith is the best guard in the country, period, hands down. But he is still a freshman, and he has to learn." ■ Head coach Mark Gottfried Smith was one of 20 players nationally to be named to the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented to the top point guard in college basketball. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN