Dennis Smith Jr. recovering from torn ACL, is expected to be out at least six months
Raul R. Rubiera
Dennis Smith Jr., a rising senior at Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School, is expected to be out at least six months.
By Bret Strelow, Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Class of 2016 point guard Dennis Smith Jr. had a torn ACL in his left knee repaired during a recent surgery, Smith's father, Dennis Sr., confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
Smith is a rising senior at Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School. Repeated attempts to obtain comment from his father have been unsuccessful.
As previously reported by The Observer, Smith underwent surgery in Durham on Friday, five days after he injured his knee in the semifinals of the adidas Nations Global event in California. The procedure was performed by Claude T. Moorman III, the director of Duke Sports Medicine.
The recovery time for a torn ACL is normally between six and 12 months, meaning Smith's high school career is likely over. The private school playoffs in North Carolina normally end in late February, which is six and a half months away, and many of nation's top prep all-star games are held in late March or April.
Considered the top point guard in his class, the 6-foot-2 Smith has not committed to a college program, and the early signing period doesn't begin until November. He has narrowed his list of college choices to N.C. State, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Kentucky and Louisville.
It's unlikely that the injury will have a major impact on his recruitment.
"Post-surgery, the recruiting did not stop,” Smith's father told ESPN. “Duke, UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest all called saying nothing has changed, and that they still want him.”
Torn ACLs are common among basketball players, many of whom return to play at full strength without having their college or professional prospects damaged.
Power forward Harry Giles, the nation's top overall prospect and a close friend of Smith's, tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee two summers ago. Giles, whose surgery was also performed by Moorman, according to ESPN, missed his sophomore season but regained his No. 1 ranking after a dominant year as a Wesleyan Christian junior and CP3 travel club standout.
Greg McClinton, another player with N.C. ties, tore the ACL in his right knee a year before he entered high school and tore it again midway through his senior season, after he had signed with Wake Forest. McClinton redshirted as a Wake freshman and started 15 games last season.
Smith helped lead Trinity Christian to a state title as a sophomore. He averaged 22.2 points and was named Gatorade’s North Carolina high school player of the year as a junior.
More about Dennis Smith
Raul R. Rubiera
Dennis Smith Jr., a rising senior at Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School, is expected to be out at least six months.
By Bret Strelow, Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Class of 2016 point guard Dennis Smith Jr. had a torn ACL in his left knee repaired during a recent surgery, Smith's father, Dennis Sr., confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
Smith is a rising senior at Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School. Repeated attempts to obtain comment from his father have been unsuccessful.
As previously reported by The Observer, Smith underwent surgery in Durham on Friday, five days after he injured his knee in the semifinals of the adidas Nations Global event in California. The procedure was performed by Claude T. Moorman III, the director of Duke Sports Medicine.
The recovery time for a torn ACL is normally between six and 12 months, meaning Smith's high school career is likely over. The private school playoffs in North Carolina normally end in late February, which is six and a half months away, and many of nation's top prep all-star games are held in late March or April.
Considered the top point guard in his class, the 6-foot-2 Smith has not committed to a college program, and the early signing period doesn't begin until November. He has narrowed his list of college choices to N.C. State, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Kentucky and Louisville.
It's unlikely that the injury will have a major impact on his recruitment.
"Post-surgery, the recruiting did not stop,” Smith's father told ESPN. “Duke, UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest all called saying nothing has changed, and that they still want him.”
Torn ACLs are common among basketball players, many of whom return to play at full strength without having their college or professional prospects damaged.
Power forward Harry Giles, the nation's top overall prospect and a close friend of Smith's, tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee two summers ago. Giles, whose surgery was also performed by Moorman, according to ESPN, missed his sophomore season but regained his No. 1 ranking after a dominant year as a Wesleyan Christian junior and CP3 travel club standout.
Greg McClinton, another player with N.C. ties, tore the ACL in his right knee a year before he entered high school and tore it again midway through his senior season, after he had signed with Wake Forest. McClinton redshirted as a Wake freshman and started 15 games last season.
Smith helped lead Trinity Christian to a state title as a sophomore. He averaged 22.2 points and was named Gatorade’s North Carolina high school player of the year as a junior.
More about Dennis Smith
