Being included in ESPN analyst Jay Bilas’ weekly honor roll and named Colonial Athletic Association player of the week were fantastic for Dre Smith after his 10-for-10 outing from the 3-point line last weekend at James Madison.
But the coolest aspect for the George Mason junior guard after his NCAA record-setting night was having the highlights picked up nationally, whichallowed his family in Houston a rare chance to see him in action.
Smith, whose mother and two brothers have never seen him play in person for the Patriots, also received an endless barrage of congratulatory calls from friends and neighbors for a performance he didn’t realize had happened.
“After the game, we were walking around, and everyone was looking at me funny,” said Smith. “I was still happy because we won. People were saying, ‘Man, you didn’t miss.’ That’s a figure of speech, and they were like, ‘No, you literally didn’t miss one.’ I honestly had no idea.”
It’s not the first new mark for Smith, who transferred from Cochise Community College (Texas) last season.
“The thing I think I liked the most about Dre is his energy he brings every day to practice, to games, and the way he approaches everything,” said Patriots head coach Jim Larranaga. “He’s just a very upbeat, positive person, lots of energy, enthusiasm.”
Having never seen snow or set foot on the East Coast until he arrived in Fairfax, Smith finishedlast season by setting a CAA Tournament record with 14 three-pointers in four games. It took he and the George Mason team until the 2007 postseason to shake off the pressure of trying to match the team’s magical run the 2006 Final Four.
“Folarin [Campbell] and Will [Thomas], they would always tell me stories about the Final Four,” said Smith. “I wanted to experience it also, and you don’t want people to say the new recruits, they aren’t up to par. That’s the downfall. There’s no way you can duplicate that type of a run.”
Smith and the rest of this year’s Patriots (13-5, 5-2 CAA), who’ve won three straight and host Old Dominion (9-10, 4-3) tonight, are starting create their own legacy.
Old Dominion at George Mason
Where » Patriot Center
When » Tonight, 8
TV » CN8
Radio » 570 AM
