Thursday, January 06, 2000
Smith still struggling with choice
UK NOTEBOOK
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOUISVILLE — There's a tug of war going on, and Derek Smith is the rope.
The Kentucky freshman tight end from Highlands, named Student Sports magazine's “Grid-Hoop National Player of the Year” last year as the player who best combines basketball and football prowess, is wrestling with his decision whether to join UK's basketball team. He reportedly will meet today with basketball coach Tubby Smith to talk about his options.
“Derek had hoped to have this decision made by now, but it may not be until Monday that he knows what he'll do,” Derek's father, Chris, said Wednesday.
Anticipation has built to a fever pitch. With backup forward Nate Knight gone, the Wildcats roster is down to 10 players. Smith, who could play either forward spot, could help fill a need. He has said repeatedly he would join the team only if he could help in a significant role.
Smith's last public comments, made Monday to the Louisville Courier-Journal, were that he was “leaning more toward not playing than playing,” but that he wants to talk to Tubby Smith and football coach Hal Mumme before deciding. Tubby Smith has said he would welcome the freshman, but Derek has said he would want Mumme's blessing.
One scenario Derek Smith has suggested is practicing with the basketball team before deciding.
“It would be great to go through a week of practice and see what I'm capable of doing and then if I'm not going to play, not do it anymore,” he told the Courier-Journal.
Smith has said he realizes his future is in football, where he's expected to replace All-American tight end James Whalen Jr. next fall.
But he can make noise in basketball. He was runner-up for Mr. Basketball honors last season, averaging 21.2 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Bogans surging Freshman guard Keith Bogans continued a hot stretch, totaling 14 points Wednesday with a career-high eight rebounds. He has averaged 11.3 points the past eight games to raise his season average from 6.0 to 9.2.
“All of us are still developing,” he said. “Coach (Smith) stressed to us to go to the boards hard tonight, and I think we did that well.”
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