QA with Donta Smith
JUCO Junction caught up with 6-6 Donta Smith of Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Ill., on Tuesday night, and spoke with the talented small forward about his commitment to Louisville.
Smith was one of the top freshmen in the country this past season at SIC, leading the Falcons to a 34-2 finish and seventh place finish at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.
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Smith averaged 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and three assists per game for Southeastern Illinois in 2002-2003.
Here is a transcript of the interview that JUCO Junction conducted with Smith:
JUCO Junction: You establised yourself as one of the top freshmen in junior college basketball this past season. Did you have a clear idea of where you wanted to go to college? I know that there were a lot of big-time schools pursuing you.
Donta Smith: I narrowed it down. I wanted to stay close to home, either Kentucky, Louisville or Cincinnati. Kentucky was my first choice, but Louisville, I said what the heck.
JJ: And what made now the time for you to commit? Had you made some unofficial visits since school ended?
DS: I went down to Louisville and met the players and coaches. They were the type of guys I thought I could fit in with.
JJ: Did you get a chance to visit either Kentucky or Cincinnati?
DS: No. I did not have the chance to get over there.
JJ: Was there really any other school in the running for you?
DS: I was thinking about Oklahoma and Cincinnati. I would have liked Kentucky, but they really didn't recruit me.
JJ: When did Louisville really turn up the heat on you? I know when we had spoken with Coach Franklin he mentioned that they had sent Vince Taylor over to see this spring.
DS: Pretty much that was it. They sent a letter before that. Once they came and started talking to me, that's when it really started.
JJ: How did you announce your commitment?
DS: I went down there today, because they had open gym, so I was playing with them.
JJ: Were they the one school that came in this spring and made an impression on you, or were there other schools that made an impression on you?
DS: Everybody else made an impression, but I felt like my family likes Louisville and it's close to home. I felt like once they started recruiting me that I would end up there.
JJ: How far is Oldham County High School, which is where you went to high school, from Louisville?
DS: About 20 minutes.
JJ: Apparently, you were considered a big time football prospect out of high school.
DS: Yes, most people thought I was better at that than basketball. But I don't care what they think. I know what's good for me.
JJ: Where does the Louisville staff see you fitting in? They brought in another JC transfer this year in Nate Daniels, who is a wing player. Where exactly do they see you fitting into the program?
DS: I guess on the wings. Either the two or three, or maybe even some four. They really haven't talked about it much.
JJ: When did they actually offer you a scholarship? Was it at the school this spring?
DS: Last Wednesday. I went down there for an unofficial visit.
JJ: And Coach Pitino offered you?
DS: Yes.
JJ: What do you think about playing for a coach like him, one who has such an outstanding record at the college level?
DS: I think it's great. Why not play for one of the best coaches in college basketball? He's put many people in the league, and that's one of my goals.
JJ: Talk about your game. You had a terrific year at Southeastern Illinois, placing seventh at the NJCAA Tournament. What do you expect to bring to the Louisville program?
DS: I plan on bringing a lot of athleticism, and with my wingspan, I can get in the passing lanes and deflect passes. Hopefully, be a factor in transition.
JJ: Does that style of play suit you?
DS: It's the same way we play at Southeasterrn, and when I played in high school. So I am not really losing anything.
JJ: Would people be surprised to see that the Donte Smith that was at Oldham County is the same Donte Smith that will be enrolling at Louisville in another year and a half? Would people be surprised that you could make such a jump athletically?
DS: Most people doubted me, I guess. People knew me more for football in high school, because we played more Louisville schools than we did in basketball.
JJ: So people got to know your football skills more than your basketball skills?
DS: Yeah.
JJ: What has the past year at Southeastern Illinois meant for you, playing for Head Coach Todd Franklin. How much did you improve in that one year.
DS: I improved a lot. In high school, I didn't really have a jumper. He kind of figured that from the get go, and he helped me every day on that.
JJ: What part of your game is the weakest?
DS: My pull up jumper and my midrange jumper. I am in the process of working on that.
JJ: Will you be at any big JC exposure events this summer?
DS: I will be at Rick Ball's Ball Stars Camp, and also his top 40 event.