There were 30-foot jumpers, between-the-legs passes and, of course, dazzling dunks.
Yes, JaJuan Smith was back in Knoxville playing basketball Monday night at the Pilot Rocky Top League at Bearden High School.
Smith scored 28 points and dished out eight assists to lead the News Sentinel to a 120-108 win over Richardson Construction.
"This is my home, and I had to come back,'' Smith said. "I want to stay in the States as long as I can.''
Smith's career was chronicled closely through his NBA summer league action and time with the Dallas Mavericks, where he lasted until the final cut.
It was as if Smith disappeared after that.
"That was real tough,'' Smith said of getting cut. "I wanted to make it so bad. I know everyone's been asking where I'm at, but I didn't want to come home and just be around.''
So Smith, very much under the radar, went overseas.
First, to Ljubljana, Slovenia, and after a brief return to the U.S., Pau, France.
"France was beautiful,'' Smith said. "I played 16 or 17 games there and averaged 16 (points) a game.''
Smith has had workouts with such NBA teams as Dallas, Charlotte, Memphis and Sacramento, He has tryouts ahead with Indiana and Atlanta.
"I want to play (NBA) summer league basketball,'' Smith said. "And I want to make the league. I think I can make it.
"Last year I was young. This year I'm mature and ready for the game.''
Smith showed his skills at an NBA camp last week at the Memphis Grizzlies facilities, where he was reunited with his old UT teammate Chris Lofton, a former Mr. Basketball in the state of Kentucky.
"I didn't know he was gonna be there, and he didn't know I was coming,'' Smith said. "When I found out he was there I told them he had to be my roommate.
"I sneaked in the room on him. He was on the bed eating chicken.''
Smith also has spent some time playing pickup with UT's latest Kentucky product, Scotty Hopson.
"Scotty has put a lot of work in,'' Smith said. "He's young and he's hungry. I think they're all hungry after last year.''
Hopson, who scored 43 points for the News Sentinel on Monday, was just as impressed with Smith.
"JaJuan works hard and he's very competitive,'' Hopson said. "He surprised me with all the defense he played out here tonight.
"I like having him on my team. He can really shoot, and he can pass.''
Smith laughed.
"I'm on the first-place team,'' he said. "How could I not be happy about that?''
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Comments » 17
Texas_Slim_Bevo writes:
Good luck with that. Somebody better tell him that the market is not in his favor. One year over seas and now he is a man. Now thats funny
golfballs03 writes:
Finally!
KJVol writes:
Good luck JaJuan!! You were a great player for the Vols, and you'll make someone a nice player in the NBA! Stick to your game and try a 360 for the crowd in the RTL for old time's sake!
BasketVols writes:
A University of Texas troll? Really? Soon it will be the United States of Troll on this message board...
Why not Wyoming, or North Dakota? Makes as much sense as a Texas troll...
tnbud62#231266 (Inactive) writes:
if memory serves me correct......didnt Jujuan own texas when he was a part of a huge upset at austin?always remember,if it werent for Tennesseee,there wouldnt be no texas!
kiffownsfla writes:
Big is that tyler in that pic doin that behind the head 180 hook shot he loves to perform? GO VOLS
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Bud, there actually would be a Texas w/o Tennessee... Only it would be spelled Tejas, and it would be the largest state in Los Estados Unidos de Mexico.
Living down here amongst them, I must say that most Texans show a little deference to my family when they hear we're from Tennessee.
crappieking writes:
Everything is BIG in Texas......Women's behinds, and Men's stomachs.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Smith will make some money overseas. Maybe a shot at the NBA. He seemed to come a long way in his career at UT.
Texas_Slim_Bevo writes:
I love how UT North fans forget the 2007-2008 year when we drilled you in New Jersey. Look it up. Last time we played our little brothers. If he was so good talk to me about the DJ Augustin 1st round? The GlobeTrotters are drafting, he loves to travel....
joshvols writes:
how about you go overseas for a year and play basketball in a place where african americans are cussed, spit on, called monkeys, and worse. What's funny is that somebody that has probably never been more than ten miles from sh*thole, texas thinks he knows what he's talking about.
Texas_Slim_Bevo writes:
I wont have to go over seas for that treatment. That happens at SEC games in all sports... You saw Glory Road
shoalcreekvol writes:
KNS headline writers do it again. Ramar Smith and Tyler Smith have been all over the news lately, including Tyler's run at the NBA, and they throw a headline up that says "Smith wants a home in the NBA". Yes, of course my mind NATURALLY went to Jajuan, who we haven't heard a word about in a year. Typical.
And Texas_Slim_Bevo - you may have picked up a new username but your rant gives you away. You need to decide which team you are really a fan of: Memphis, Kentucky, Florida, Texas. Regardless of which login you use, your words are always the same useless drivel with a different team name stuck in there.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Yard Bird.
tuckepk writes:
The young man kept his nose clean and played his heart out at UT (not north, just UT), was a very large contributor to some successful teams with some big wins. He thinks he has the game to play in the NBA and is doing his best to prove and improve. He's chasing a dream he hopes/believes he can catch. Why can't you just be happy with that and wish him the best??? If you can't, maybe you should find something else to worry about.
Irwin_Linker writes:
Slim Bevo when did Texas become a state? Now, when was UT chartered as a school? That's right our school is 100 years older than your state. We are the real UT. This isn't even up for debate.
Texas_Slim_Bevo writes:
I have never and will never argue about real UT's. I said you are UT. Just North of us. I like your program. Its nice to see schools develop into national programs like your bball
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