"I'm hoping it puts pressure on the two guys playing with him," said Watkins. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), North Carolina A&T's JR Smith waits to putt on the 17th green during the first round, North Carolina A&T's JR Smith waits to putt on the 17th green during the first round of the Phoenix Invitational golf tournament in Burlington, N.C., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Melo joining LeBron, Lakers on 1-year deal, NBA unveils diamond patch for NBA 75 jerseys, OKC acquires Favors, future first-round pick, Durant expected to make Suns debut tonight, David Benner, Pacers longtime PR director, dies, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1, How the Spurs celebrated Black Heritage Night. "I dont give a damn whether he wants to stay or go," Smith said. At the time, Smith's agent, Lance Young, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that there was high interest from golf apparel and equipment manufacturers in sponsoring the enormously popular (6.2 million followers on Instagram alone) college athlete. section: | slug: j-r-smith-shoots-83-78-in-college-debut-for-north-carolina-a-t-at-elon-phoenix-invitational | sport: golf | route: article_single.us | Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith has transitioned from the court to the golf course and classroom effortlessly. J.R. Smith (right), a 16-year NBA veteran, is a freshman walk-on for North Carolina A&T's golf team. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA, A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Caroina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. 6:33 AM EDT, Tue October 12, 2021. Smith, 36, enrolled at North I just know how to compete with myself, Smith said. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of, Former NBA player J.R. Smith gets a word of encouragement from head coach Richard Watkins of the North Carolina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Its a lot different than playing a round with your buddies at the random public courses.. RELATED: J.R. Smith finally played Pine Valleyand then bought the entire pro shop. However, on the home stretch, things took a turn for the worse as he made six consecutive bogeys and then a double bogey on his 17th hole before finishing with another bogey to shoot a 10-over 81. DAMN IM BEYOND PROUD OF MY BROTHER!. Two-time NBA champion JR Smith made his college golf debut on Monday exactly a year to the day after he won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. JR Smith made a 16-year NBA career out of embarrassing defenders, bucket after bucket. Since Smith wanted to play on the golf team, and not the basketball team, the green light was given. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775722383 ORIG FILE ID: 1346025445, Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to, Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to the 13th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Obviously different environments from playing in front of 20,000 people to playing in a college golf gallery. "Play, win. Now he is back in the classroom on his way to earning a degree. Its not golf 24/7 even though he enrolled in part to play on the universitys golf team. Published The grip on the club changes, and we get to see who you really are.. Instead the buzz centered around the Elon Phoenix Invitational, an innocuous college golf tournament turned viral epicenter thanks to the NCAA golf debut of two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith. While his score was dropped from the Aggies team total for the first round (the format is play five players, count your best four scores), Smith did beat one of his teammates in the first 18. Ex-NBAer turned college golfer JR Smith named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. 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Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on the 6th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Thats right. Hes already started classes, relating his experiences via his Twitter feed. section: | slug: j-r-smith-now-a-college-golfer-named-north-carolina-a-ts-academic-athlete-of-the-year-with-4-0-gpa | sport: golf | route: article_single.us | Smith said he has a 5 handicap and started playing golf 12 years ago with the encouragement of late NBA great Moses Malone. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Two-time NBA champion JR Smith made his college golf debut on Monday exactly a year to the day after he won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. He remained in the middle of the leaderboard through the front nine at one over par. Smith been tweeting all kinds of revelations since his first week on campus. JR thought he was just short of his 4.0 goal this semester only to be surprised with the good news today @TheRealJRSmith pic.twitter.com/0mLyPSV9R6, In a video posted the same day, Smith was clearly emotional. Smith, who won NBA championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers alongside LeBron James, recently started college classes at North Carolina A&T, with the plans of getting a liberal arts degree. pic.twitter.com/RDNJGhiRaw. Make fun of his liberal studies major all you want, but how many 4.0 semesters did you pull down? We also know that his game is no joke. Unfortunately for the former sharpshooting guard his scorecard was just as colorful in his college golf debut. The two-time @NBA champ is enrolling @NCATAggies with his sights set on the golf team. This was a guy most famous (or rather infamous) for never wearing a shirt and miscounting the score in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Then along came the virus. The two-time NBA champion is in the middle of his first semester at NC A&T, where he is playing on the golf team, a move that has been widely covered and that he has explained in depth. 2. @WFMY @ncatsuaggies pic.twitter.com/s7q6rpk1pa, #perspective+1 thru his first 10, including a couple of bounce-back birdiesPars at 13 & 14 are strong from the tips, but bogey on the next 3 easier holes start to get in your head before difficult tasks on 18 & 1Need to see good things at 2, 4, & 6Going 36 today! Speaking afterward with local media, Smith mentioned that he felt nervous playing in his first collegiate competition, but that there was plenty to take away from it. Its going to be fun, Smith said Monday in an online news conference. Proud of you Kid!!! Now he was diving headfirst into the world of higher education at the age of 36 with the stated mission of playing college golf. JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) August 22, 2021, My first deadline is at midnight pic.twitter.com/Za7n4XDQ1j, JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) August 23, 2021, For me, because I have a wild imagination, its going to be very interesting, Smith said. Elons Pedro Rabadan led after the first 18 holes with a 6-under 65. appreciated. Best irons for 2023 for every handicap and playing style, Three sleeper picks to win the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, including Tommy Fleetwood at 80/1, Best golf drivers for 2023 for every handicap and playing style, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0 GPA:JR Smith, Men's Golf (: @Turkin35) pic.twitter.com/wPyIb9zNkm. J.R. Smith's college golf debut featured a bizarre turn of events. Believe it or not, the following sentence is not a joke either: J.R. Smith is about to start his competitive collegiate golf career. As managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brands e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. The thought of studying for some pointless accounting final as an English major still haunts my dreams, especially as an adult with adult aches, pains, and responsibilities. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at, J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Check out the best photos of Smiths time as a college golfer. Ex-NBAer turned college golfer JR Smith named North Carolina A&T's Academic A Warner Bros. Recently, now that his NBA days are behind him, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T to pursue a degree in liberal studies and is hoping to get a spot on the Aggies' golf team. In January, Smith signed with Excel Sports Management for NIL representation. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. About. As for Smiths college golf career, that remains to be seen. 18. Playing for a score as opposed to just playing for your ego and pride. Its not Rose Zhang at Stanford or Pierceson Coody at Texas, two of the best college players on the planet. Unfortunately, he only made one other birdie over his next 31 holes of play on the day (golfers played 36 on Monday at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina). Somewhere out there, Jesus Shuttlesworth is beaming. Two-time NBA champion JR Smith, making his collegiate golf debut for North Carolina A&T, finished in 81st place out 84 entries after shooting a 79 in the final Pulling up to the range at my first college tournament! Smith skipped going to college and went straight from high school to the NBA in 2004 but said he began thinking about going to college during a trip to the Dominican Republic with Hall of Famer Ray Allen. Smith said thats exactly what he wants from his delayed college experience. J.R. Smith Made His College Golf Debut and it Was Pretty Fascinating Morning Read's Ward Clayton was there when the 36-year-old former NBA star shot an The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. Two-time NBA Champion JR Smith has enrolled at North Carolina A&T and has joined the mens golf team. "A lot of hard work went into that s---.". But its still as nerve-racking as shooting a free throw in front of 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front of three. Smith warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational. Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. On Monday, the 36-year-old -- who was originally slated to play basketball at North Carolina before jumping from St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, New Jersey, to the NBA draft in 2004 -- was named the Aggies' Academic Athlete of the Year. Smith was awarded a tee time after qualifying in practice by one stroke. On Dec. 14, Smith took to social media to share he had achieved his goal of earning a 4.0 grade-point average. North Carolina A&T;s Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0, The news comes a week after apparel brand Lululemon signed Smith to be its golf ambassador through a name, image and likeness deal. Plus, from the looks of the video below and a handful of tweets from those on-site, Smith really had it going to start the day before things got away from him. Smith has documented his time in college and has been open about studying, getting his schoolwork doneand all the stresses that come with college work. Love bro https://t.co/gqwOLnlcdw. Love you kid! @WFMY @ncatsuaggies pic.twitter.com/s7q6rpk1pa, Brian Hall (@bhallwfmy) October 11, 2021, He has a good enough golf game to put up some good numbers, said head coach Richard Watkins a week before Smiths debut. He scored more than 12,000 regular-season points while playing for five NBA teams. In a tweet, James wrote, HOW AMAZING IS THIS MAN!!! Proud of you Kid!!! Oh man is right. The former sixth man of the year was named North Carolina A&T;s Academic Athlete of the Year with a 4.0 GPA on Monday. Had a pair of birdies, a great chip and stuck his approach on No. Alamance Country Club is the venue for the week, a par 71 layout measuring 6,867 yards. In the fall of 2021, 16-year NBA veteran JR Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University and joined the golf team as a walk-on. Obviously different environments from playing in front of 20,000 people to playing in a college golf gallery, Smith said. A lot of hard work went into that s--- you know Monday through Friday eight to eleven, sometimes longer, straight schoolwork. Smith made six Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. Now, in his second semester [It was] a learning experience, he said. J.R. Smith to make college golf debut. Can you imagine being the fifth guy for George Mason or Radford and rolling up to somebody who was flying private with LeBron James 12 months ago and made $88.3 million over the course of his career? "It's so fun," Simpson said of coaching. Elons Pedro Rabadan led after the first 18 holes with a 2023 Cable News Network. So happy and proud of you my brother @TheRealJRSmith!!!! Smith clearly loves it enough to dive in regardless and risk, failure or frustration for the opportunity at success in a world where it is so fleeting. But its still as nerve-racking as shooting a free throw in front of 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front of three. pic.twitter.com/WlCNZ8cCvk, followed @TheRealJRSmith for the first five holes today in his first tournament as a member of the @NCATAGGIES Golf Team. If you havent been there, youre not a golfer. You would think a guy like J.R. is used to having eyes on him.". As he took the game more seriously, he frequented driving ranges and worked to improve his swing on his own, never hiring a coach while picking up occasional tips from watching Golf Channel. Smith actually beat a handful of competitors in the first round and headed right back out there for a second 18-hole round Monday. Our man started one over through the first nine holes of his round, but then promptly double-bogeyed the par-3 14th (his 10th). Fred Couples' LIV dig, Tom Brady and Tony Finau tee it up at Seminole | Rogers Report, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational tee times: Round 1 groupings for Thursday. 10:25 am ET, Smith has documented his time in college and has been open about studying, getting his schoolwork done, When Smith first earned his 4.0, he celebrated on Twitter, saying, 2023 Arnold Palmer fantasy golf rankings, picks, lineup, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks, field, odds, How to watch 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, odds, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational PGA DFS picks, lineups, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational props, expert picks, J.R. Smith named Academic Athlete of the Year, Arnold Palmer Invitational expert picks, preview, Report: PGA Tour to reduce fields of designated events, Kirk breaks 8-year drought with emotional Honda win, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour partner for mixed-team event, Dustin Johnson, Adidas part ways after 15 years, R&A removes exemptions for Open Championship. Ex-NBAer turned college golfer JR Smith named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year. Proud of you Kid!!! He died aged 67. If you want to find out how good a golfer really is, put the word tournament or money in front of the round. Smith walked off the course tied for 79th after eight bogeys, two double bogeys, two birdies and six pars. BURLINGTON, N.C. J.R. Smith couldnt help but feel anxious. The 2-time NBA Champion is now a freshman walk-on for the North Carolina A&T mens golf team.. "I can't even describe the feeling," he said. Smith, who qualified to play in the No. That fact brought is humorous in light of this quote from A&T head coach Richard Watkins from before the tournament begin. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard played professionally for a host of NBA teams, winning NBA titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Smith, a Top 100 Courses in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is here! And while it perhaps did not lead to the scorecard Smith wanted on Monday, it's fantastic that somebody so accomplished on one discipline is entering the arena in another one. Over the past two days, Smith has been tweeting about an impending assignment deadline: his first-ever Powerpoint presentation for an English class about where he saw himself in the next five to 10 years. Until then, Smith will be busy juggling school work most of his courses are online currently and working on his golf game. Smith -- who won titles with LeBron James in 2016 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers -- credited a conversation with Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen as the catalyst for his decision to petition the NCAA to be eligible to play. The athlete known to hoops fans as JR Swish is the first male golfer to sign a brand ambassador deal with Lululemon. "I'm hoping it does not affect him. After retiring from basketball the35-year-old decided to enroll at North Carolina A&T and walk on as a freshman. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: golf | pageType: stories | -via ESPN / April 26, 2022, LeBron James: YESSIR @TheRealJRSmith !! Smith had the sixth-best score out of six players on his team. pic.twitter.com/MOPVusR4zE. The 36-year-old former NBA star responded to the news with a smile emoji. Smith, a 16-year NBA veteran, enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University in August, with the hopes of playing on the universitys golf team. The two-time NBA champion finished 81st out of 84 in his first competitive college tournament back in Smith earned a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in liberal studies and competing on the golf team. That, in and of itself, is success. After a standout high school basketball career, Smith initially planned to play college ball at the University of North Carolina. Smith received many congratulations when the news broke on Monday, perhaps none bigger than the one he received from his former teammate and NBA great James. I was nervous. College signing day for @TheRealJRSmith. Former NBA guardJ.R. Smith made his college golf debut for North Carolina A&T on Monday at the Elon Phoenix Invitational, and that sentence alone might be worth its own book some day. After Smith was named Academic Athlete of the Year, James tweeted, "YESSIR @TheRealJRSmith!! North Carolina A&Ts first tournament of the fall season is the Black College Golf Association Invitational on Sept. 24-25 at in Newman, Ga. Well have to wait and see whether or not Smith makes his college golf debut then. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. 9M; But all along, Smith insisted he was there to learn and get the college experience he sacrificed when he opted for the NBA straight out of high school. Smith walked off the course tied for 79th after eight bogeys, two double bogeys, two birdies and six pars. Learning how to play from the rough in certain areas. In January, Smith signed an NIL deal with Excel Sports Management. In college golf, teams drop one of five scores, and his was the lowest both times. What do we make of the PGA Tours new Designated Events Model? But, put meaning to it, and the heart rate changes. Masters: Wanna play Augusta National? J.R. Smith's hard work this year has paid off. The Jazz acquire cash considerations and a future second-round pick in the trade with the Thunder. "Hopefully they're learning some things and I don't mess them up.". JR Smith officially begins college at North Carolina A&T, joins 6 min read. One of the coolest non-tour golf stories of the year belongs to J.R. Smith. Favorite part of JR Smith's college debut is that he looks damn good doing it. I dont know if the professor is prepared for that, and Im obviously not the average freshman. The most famous collegiate golfer plays at North Carolina A&T: J.R. Smith. The third and final round will get underway at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Playing when there is nothing on the line is one thing. Smith-Njigba is coming off a season in which a nagging hamstring injury limited him to five catches total, but he led Ohio State in catches (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021. Anthony Ford, competing as an individual, shot an 11-over 82. followed @TheRealJRSmith for the first five holes today in his first tournament as a member of the @NCATAGGIES Golf Team. Best of luck you student/athlete GO AGGIES TEAM https://t.co/3OJr6nnzGo. After making the team, the 36-year-old made his debut at the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club. That is what you would probably expect from a world-class athlete trying to contend on a fairly high level in a sport he has not played competitively for extended periods of time. Four holes into the second round, he had made three pars and a birdie. Zak is a writer at GOLF Magazine, currently working on a book about the summer he spent in St. Andrews. Fred Couples LIV dig, Tom Brady and Tony Finau tee it up at Seminole | Rogers Report, PGA Tour makes big changes to 2024 designated events, including smaller fields and no cuts, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, Rory McIlroy reveals how Tiger Woods influenced recent driver switch, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Although hes had experience of playing in some of basketballs biggest moments in front of millions of people, Smith admitted he was nervous before teeing off. Undoubtedly. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies checks his course book during the Phoenix Invitational, J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies checks his course book during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Smith looked the part, although the photos themselves are surreal. As for Smiths college golf career, that remains to be seen. Smith hung in there strong for 10 holes, and was in the middle of the pack on the leaderboard at just one over before things took a turn for the worse. He also hoped to play on the golf team, but approval from the NCAA regarding the 35-year-olds eligibility was the final hurdle he had to navigate. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: golf | pageType: stories | THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Worlds most famous college golfer J.R. Smith gets emotional after earning 4.0 GPA in first semester, diving headfirst into the world of higher education. 9 to within a foot from the pin. The former NBA player turned college student athlete was named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year. The two-time NBA champion finished 81st out of 84 in his first competitive college tournament back in October, adding insult to injury when he stepped on a hornets nest midway through his second round. He made his collegiate debut at the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina, after qualifying for the team by one stroke. Former NBA star J.R. Smith on how basketball is likegolf?! As for his golf game, Smith said hes been playing for about 12 years. J.R. Smith just aced his first semester of college, posting a perfect 4.0 GPA. According to the school, All A&T golfers must qualify for each tournament in practice unless the golfer finishes first or second on the team in the previous tournament, and Smith qualified for the Phoenix Invitational by one stroke.
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