Smith wants a home in the NBA

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?''

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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