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JR Smith’s university beginnings are here.
The longtime NBA player-turned-varsity golfer has officially qualified for his first tournament with North Carolina A&T State, and will make his debut Monday at the Phoenix Invitational.
“He’s got a pretty good golf game to show some good numbers,” Aggies coach Richard Watkins said via the school’s website. “But that’s what I tell people. If you want to know how good a golfer really is, put the word tournament or money before the round. Playing when there’s nothing at stake is one thing. , put on your senses and the heart rate changes. The grip on the club changes, and we can see who you really are. “
Last month, the NCAA allowed the 16-year-old NBA veteran to play golf at HBCU after enrolling in school to pursue a liberal education. Smith was going to play college basketball in North Carolina, but instead decided to make the NBA Draft right out of high school.
Smith was selected with the No. 18 overall pick in 2004 by the New Orleans Hornets, who launched his NBA career. He also played for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and one final season with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring last year. He won two NBA titles alongside LeBron James, once with the Cavaliers and again with the Lakers, and has averaged 12.4 points and 2.1 assists per game throughout his career.
Within the last decade, however, Smith started playing golf and is said to have even a handicap of 5. So when he signed up for North Carolina A&T State, the 35-year-old made an effort to join. the team.
The two-day event at the Alamance Country Club will be Smith’s first real test in the sport, something he was expected to win. All Aggies players must qualify for each practice tournament, unless they finish first or second on the team in the previous event. Smith crossed that mark in one fell swoop.
“Golf is one of those games that makes you feel really good or can bring you to your knees and humiliate you,” Smith said in August via the PGA Tour. “And having that feeling and knowing that the whole game is pretty much in my hands and I don’t have to worry about teammates passing the ball and receiving assists and playing defense so I can play my game and just have fun. “
As to whether he can handle the extra attention in his first tournament, Watkins isn’t too worried.
“Hopefully that puts pressure on the two guys playing with him,” Watkins said. “I hope that doesn’t affect him. You’d think a guy like JR is used to having eyes on him.”
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