Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Dennis Smith Jr. Talks Package Deal with Tatum, Giles, Playing Seventh Woods, Recruiting
By JACK LeGWINCOLUMBIA, S.C.- Much has been made about the possible package deal with Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Dennis Smith Jr. While it is something that each is highly considering, they’d don’t discuss it often.
“We talk about it about twice every month,” Smith Jr. told SNY.tv. “They’re two great players, two of the top ranked players in the country, and they show it every time they play. It would definitely be a plus for me to play with those guys.”
Smith Jr. said it is something they are serious about.
“We really do mean it whenever we say it,” Smith Jr said. “But we really haven’t put too much thought into it as of now. That is something that we are looking forward to talking more about next year.”
Smith Jr., ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2016 by 247 Sports, is currently averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists per game for Trinity Christian.
Smith Jr.’s Trinity Christian (N.C.) took on a close friend this past weekend in the high-flying Seventh Woods and Hammond School (S.C.) in a game that drew a sold out crowd at Richland Northeast High School. Smith Jr. and Woods played on the same AAU team growing up, the Karolina Diamonds. Smith Jr. scored 21 points in the loss.
“It’s fun man,” Smith Jr. said. “He’s a great player, we just go out there and we like to compete against each other on the court, and we’re brothers off of the court, so it’s real fun playing against each other.”
On the recruiting path, Smith Jr. says that not much has changed outside of Ohio State recently showing interest. The Buckeyes coaching staff say star guard D’Angelo Russell’s is an example of how they’d use Smith Jr..
“The newest school to talk to me is Ohio State,” Smith Jr. told SNY.tv. “Ohio State is one school I’ll want to visit because I’ve already visited every ACC school. They told me to watch a lot of their games to see how they let D’Angelo Russell go out and play his game. They said they’ll let me come in and do the same thing.”
PHOTO- J Hardy LeGwin
Follow Jack on Twitter
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
By JACK LeGWIN
COLUMBIA, S.C.- Much has been made about the possible package deal with Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Dennis Smith Jr. While it is something that each is highly considering, they’d don’t discuss it often.
“We talk about it about twice every month,” Smith Jr. told SNY.tv. “They’re two great players, two of the top ranked players in the country, and they show it every time they play. It would definitely be a plus for me to play with those guys.”
Smith Jr. said it is something they are serious about.
“We really do mean it whenever we say it,” Smith Jr said. “But we really haven’t put too much thought into it as of now. That is something that we are looking forward to talking more about next year.”
Smith Jr., ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2016 by 247 Sports, is currently averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists per game for Trinity Christian.
Smith Jr.’s Trinity Christian (N.C.) took on a close friend this past weekend in the high-flying Seventh Woods and Hammond School (S.C.) in a game that drew a sold out crowd at Richland Northeast High School. Smith Jr. and Woods played on the same AAU team growing up, the Karolina Diamonds. Smith Jr. scored 21 points in the loss.
“It’s fun man,” Smith Jr. said. “He’s a great player, we just go out there and we like to compete against each other on the court, and we’re brothers off of the court, so it’s real fun playing against each other.”
On the recruiting path, Smith Jr. says that not much has changed outside of Ohio State recently showing interest. The Buckeyes coaching staff say star guard D’Angelo Russell’s is an example of how they’d use Smith Jr..
“The newest school to talk to me is Ohio State,” Smith Jr. told SNY.tv. “Ohio State is one school I’ll want to visit because I’ve already visited every ACC school. They told me to watch a lot of their games to see how they let D’Angelo Russell go out and play his game. They said they’ll let me come in and do the same thing.”
PHOTO- J Hardy LeGwin
Follow Jack on Twitter
