11:46 pm, Thu Nov 12, 2015.
By Bret Strelow, Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
High school senior Dennis Smith Jr., who signed with N.C. State's basketball program Wednesday, announced Thursday night that he'll graduate early from Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School and begin college in January.
Smith, who is listed as the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 point guard in ESPN's Class of 2016 rankings, had surgery Aug. 7 to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. The procedure was performed by Claude T. Moorman III, the director of Duke Sports Medicine, and Smith has been rehabbing at Duke.
Wearing an N.C. State hat with a dark blazer, white dress shirt and red bow tie Thursday, Smith appeared on ESPNU's "Recruiting Nation" show and said his recovery is ahead of schedule. He likely would have missed his entire senior season at Trinity Christian, and he said the early enrollment at N.C. State is "mainly for the rehab purposes."
"I can rehab every day there," Smith said on ESPNU. "Thankfully, my grades were good enough for me to do it early."
After signing Wednesday, when school wasn't in session because of the Veterans Day holiday, and traveling to Charlotte for an in-studio appearance at the ESPNU facility Thursday, Smith will be recognized during a ceremony at Trinity Christian on Friday afternoon.
Wednesday was the first day of the early signing period, and the filing of the proper paperwork allowed N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried to make his first public comments on Smith, who committed to the Wolfpack two months ago.
"I'm thrilled because he's an electric kind of player," Gottfried told reporters Thursday. "Just as a fan, if I'm watching, it's hard for me to take my eyes off of him because he's so athletic. He makes great plays - athletic plays. He's a fun, fun player to watch. I think he's going to have a chance to make a big impact right from day one."
The Wolfpack is still considered the favorite for unsigned power forward and High Point Christian senior Edrice "Bam" Adebayo, who played alongside Smith on the Team Loaded North Carolina travel squad this summer.
Adebayo is ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in his class by ESPN.
"I think we have a good shot of getting Bam,” Smith said on ESPNU. “We’ve been playing together since I was in the eighth grade, and we’ve got a great relationship on and off the court. I think we’ll be able to sign him or get him to commit pretty soon.”
By Bret Strelow, Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
High school senior Dennis Smith Jr., who signed with N.C. State's basketball program Wednesday, announced Thursday night that he'll graduate early from Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School and begin college in January.
Smith, who is listed as the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 point guard in ESPN's Class of 2016 rankings, had surgery Aug. 7 to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. The procedure was performed by Claude T. Moorman III, the director of Duke Sports Medicine, and Smith has been rehabbing at Duke.
Wearing an N.C. State hat with a dark blazer, white dress shirt and red bow tie Thursday, Smith appeared on ESPNU's "Recruiting Nation" show and said his recovery is ahead of schedule. He likely would have missed his entire senior season at Trinity Christian, and he said the early enrollment at N.C. State is "mainly for the rehab purposes."
"I can rehab every day there," Smith said on ESPNU. "Thankfully, my grades were good enough for me to do it early."
After signing Wednesday, when school wasn't in session because of the Veterans Day holiday, and traveling to Charlotte for an in-studio appearance at the ESPNU facility Thursday, Smith will be recognized during a ceremony at Trinity Christian on Friday afternoon.
Wednesday was the first day of the early signing period, and the filing of the proper paperwork allowed N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried to make his first public comments on Smith, who committed to the Wolfpack two months ago.
"I'm thrilled because he's an electric kind of player," Gottfried told reporters Thursday. "Just as a fan, if I'm watching, it's hard for me to take my eyes off of him because he's so athletic. He makes great plays - athletic plays. He's a fun, fun player to watch. I think he's going to have a chance to make a big impact right from day one."
The Wolfpack is still considered the favorite for unsigned power forward and High Point Christian senior Edrice "Bam" Adebayo, who played alongside Smith on the Team Loaded North Carolina travel squad this summer.
Adebayo is ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in his class by ESPN.
"I think we have a good shot of getting Bam,” Smith said on ESPNU. “We’ve been playing together since I was in the eighth grade, and we’ve got a great relationship on and off the court. I think we’ll be able to sign him or get him to commit pretty soon.”
