RALEIGH – North Carolina State opened its ACC season Saturday afternoon at Virginia Tech with an early look at the 2016-17 season. Highly recruited point guard Dennis Smith Jr. traveled to Blacksburg with the team.
Smith sat on the bench with his future teammates, although he’s officially a member of the Wolfpack recruiting Class of 2016. He will enroll in the school on Jan. 6 and continue his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery as a college student.
“I think I can be back to full speed by February,” Smith said of his rehab before the game. “Once I’m cleared I can start playing pickup games.”
Smith normally would be finishing his senior year at Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian, but he opted to graduate in December and enroll early once his knee injury ended his high school career. He suffered torn ACL knee ligaments playing for his travel ball team last summer.
Athletes graduating and enrolling early is common in football so players can get a head start acclimating themselves in spring football. Smith is essentially doing the same thing.
Smith attended the recent 44th annual HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational in Raleigh with two N.C. State teammates, junior guard Cat Barber and freshman forward Shaun Kirk. He walked freely without any trace of hindrance from the knee injury. The 6-foot-3 Smith said he’s kept fit at 180 pounds. His playing weight as a junior last year was 185.
“My rehab is ahead of schedule,” he said. “I’ve been running a mile every other day.”
He added that his workouts include jumping and lateral movements, but at this point planting on his knee is a careful next step.
This time a year ago, Smith was one of the dominant players in the 43rd annual Holiday Invitational. He was named to the all-tournament team. He sat on Trinity Christian’s team bench for the games.
He was one of the most popular figures in the Broughton High gym, even though he didn’t play or don a uniform. He was recruiting coup for N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried as the nation’s No. 1-ranked point guard and No. 4 player overall by ESPN. That’s significant in area where neighboring North Carolina and Duke commonly land the top recruits in and outside the state.
Smith’s recruiting story is a refreshing one. He grew up near N.C. State in Fayetteville, which is 60 minutes south of Raleigh. Once he was convinced his career could grow under Gottfried with the Wolfpack, he wasn’t distracted by the shiny baubles that are part of the national recruiting trail.
“I’m excited to be part of the program,” Smith said. “It’s a dream come true to for me, having grown up an N.C. State fan. For the way they recruited me, I was happy to show my loyalty.”
The N.C. State fans at the Holiday Invitational gathered around him for photos and autographs. Fans pushed past Barber and Kirk to wish him well.
“I’m having a good time,” Smith said. “People are telling me they can’t wait for me to get to State and see me in action.”
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