How J.R. Smith Decided to Jump From Preps to Pros

By ADAM ZAGORIA

NEW YORK — Eight years ago at this time, J.R. Smith had signed with North Carolina and was still planning on enrolling there that fall and playing for head coach Roy Williams.

Having chosen the Tar Heels over Louisville, Pittsburgh, N.C. State and Duke, the 6-foot-5 swingman from Lakewood, N.J., was excited about his future.

“He really liked Louisville but he always dreamed of playing at Carolina,” former St. Benedict’s coach Dan Hurley, now the coach at Wagner (23-4), told SNY.tv.

“He had not talked a whole lot about the NBA going into the whole year. He was excited to go to Carolina.”