Jamar Smith has game-high 40 pts

[dsg]

I sure wish Jamar could have gotten his priorities straightened out here! He would have been a great asset to the team this year, but I am glad to see he did get it together and is having such a positive impact and wish him the very best! Averaging 23.4 points.... Not too shabby!

Smith made 12 of 14 field goals, including 8 of 10 from 3-point range. He also went 8 for 9 from the free throw line and became the second player in Eagles history to score 40 or more points in a game.

SJ-R.com

[I-RepJerseyCity]

Congratulations to him!

[Kasino81]

see ya in the NBA

[IlliniSteve]

Good for Jamar. Too bad he's not doing that with us right now...

[david2305]

Originally Posted by Kasino81

see ya in the NBA

NBA??

[NV Illini 74]

Congrats, Jamar ! !

I miss you in Orange and Blue.

[decaturguy]

Originally Posted by Kasino81

see ya in the NBA

I always loved him but I think it is a bit of a streach to put him in the NBA at this point.

[NxtLvelIllini7]

Still one of my favorite Illini players!

[HeartofaChampion]

If he hadn't gotten in the infamous accident, he'd have graduated last May and wouldn't be on the team this year.

[IlliniRunIn07]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

If he hadn't gotten in the infamous accident, he'd have graduated last May and wouldn't be on the team this year.

But he was sitting out a year to redshirt. If he hadn't gotten that second drinking ticket, he'd be here this year. Senior leadership too.

[Illlini Fan in Louisville]

Originally Posted by dsg

I sure wish Jamar could have gotten his priorities straightened out here! He would have been a great asset to the team this year, but I am glad to see he did get it together and is having such a positive impact and wish him the very best! Averaging 23.4 points.... Not too shabby!

Good for him! Following this game his average is up to 24.8 points per game. Shooting .546 from field AND .545 from 3 point land, along with .880 FTs. Most impressive.

[uinuke81]

I truly hope he keeps it together this time but 2-time losers have a long way to go to get my trust back.

[Serious Late]

I would not at all be surprised to see a shooter like Jamar end up on an NBA roster.

[Kasino81]

Jamar reminds me of this Kevin Martin

[OrangeFever]

I don't think he has any shot at all of making an NBA roster.

[zoggle101]

Most people didn't think Devon George would either I'm sure. You never know. Jamar was almost Lutheresq but looked a lot smoother when he was a youngster playing for the Illini. Kid had a ton of upside.

[illinois_hustle]

Meanwhile the other player he is eternally linked with, Brian Carlwell, is averaging 4.8 & 3.0 for SDSU and was recently dropped from the starting lineup. A sad story to be sure ... I hope he's getting an education he can use.

I do hope Jamar continues his good play; his career will almost assuredly end after college, so I'm really hoping he's got his life entirely together.

[zoggle101]

I actually looked at the box score for SDst and BC had a very good game. Try reading the box scores every night and check in on teams you like/think are good. It let's you look like you know what you're talking about a lot better. He's above average game has been within the week. Yes, his pt has fluctuated this year but have you seen how big he is? 300+ with not much muscle. He's obviously out of shape right now. I expect 10 and 6 from him next year similar to what Aaron Spears would of done at the mid major level. Spears was a quality back up for St. Johns and played behind a very good player who is probably getting payed to play.. You never know who Spears is backing up. It's unlikely the starter is a future NBA player but many didn't think Devon George would play coming out of a D3 school. Look at Q Watkins even though he was a top 100 prep player who never played D1 ball he made a NBA summer league roster out of South Idaho. I just want to bring up Darrington Hobson for having a great year. Another near get.

[illinois_hustle]

Originally Posted by zoggle101

I actually looked at the box score for SDst and BC had a very good game. Try reading the box scores every night and check in on teams you like/think are good.

I did. BC had a good game his last time out (against mighty Pomona Pitzer). Why? Garbage minutes. He's averaging the 4.8 points/game WITH that great 13pt performance against the Pomona powerhouse.

Try living near the team you are talking about, then actually watching the game. Then you can actually act like you know what you are talking about. Did you?

Carlwell was starting at the beginning of the season. I was rooting for him big time. His minutes started dropping off; now he doesn't start. Steve Fisher benched him for now. I'm still rooting for him.

What's your point again?

[mmccallum]

Originally Posted by OrangeFever

I don't think he has any shot at all of making an NBA roster.

I agree. There are tons of D1 rejects burning the basket in DII. Why? Because they could not make it in D1. If you can't make it in D1, then you sure aren't going to make it in NBA. You can interject that his move to DII was not related to basketball, but rather lpersonal issues but then why didn't some other D1 team come along and pick him up like they did legion? I was not that impressed with Smith at IL, but expected him to improve. Relatively few DII players go to the NBA because they don't get on TV, remain under the radar, and frankly just don't play anything close to the competition.

[PLauderdale30]

Originally Posted by mmccallum

I agree. There are tons of D1 rejects burning the basket in DII. Why? Because they could not make it in D1. If you can't make it in D1, then you sure aren't going to make it in NBA. You can interject that his move to DII was not related to basketball, but rather lpersonal issues but then why didn't some other D1 team come along and pick him up like they did legion? I was not that impressed with Smith at IL, but expected him to improve. Relatively few DII players go to the NBA because they don't get on TV, remain under the radar, and frankly just don't play anything close to the competition.

People get way too caught up in the arbitrary lines that are Division I, DII, NAIA etc. The level of play and competition at USI (DII) is greater than or equal to a large majority of DI places.

Jamar is also a different story than those DI "rejects" because he only transfered down to DII because of personal issues, not flaws in his game. I dont know very many people who ever thought Jamar wasnt a DI talent. In fact, most people (including coaching staff obviously) were willing to give him a second chance because they thought he could really help the team.

Overall, I have heard that some NBA teams at least have Jamar on their radar. Remember, there is a huge difference between being an NBA draft pick, and making at least a training camp roster. I think Jamar at least gets invited to a summer league camp with a chance to make it to the final roster in the fall.

[illini4everjp]

Glad to see him succeeding somewhere and turning things around for himself.

[GeorgiaIllini]

Originally Posted by PLauderdale30

People get way too caught up in the arbitrary lines that are Division I, DII, NAIA etc. The level of play and competition at USI (DII) is greater than or equal to a large majority of DI places.

Jamar is also a different story than those DI "rejects" because he only transfered down to DII because of personal issues, not flaws in his game. I dont know very many people who ever thought Jamar wasnt a DI talent. In fact, most people (including coaching staff obviously) were willing to give him a second chance because they thought he could really help the team.

Overall, I have heard that some NBA teams at least have Jamar on their radar. Remember, there is a huge difference between being an NBA draft pick, and making at least a training camp roster. I think Jamar at least gets invited to a summer league camp with a chance to make it to the final roster in the fall.

As I recall, before the relapse, he was going to be the best player on our D1 team. So looking at him as a DII player is misleading. I don't think you can say he'll never play in the NBA. If he keeps working hard and getting better, anything is possible.

[Kasino81]

He will come off the bench and hit 3's, he might even get a couple rings in the pro's.

[illini80]

Originally Posted by PLauderdale30

People get way too caught up in the arbitrary lines that are Division I, DII, NAIA etc. The level of play and competition at USI (DII) is greater than or equal to a large majority of DI places.

Jamar is also a different story than those DI "rejects" because he only transfered down to DII because of personal issues, not flaws in his game. I dont know very many people who ever thought Jamar wasnt a DI talent. In fact, most people (including coaching staff obviously) were willing to give him a second chance because they thought he could really help the team.

Overall, I have heard that some NBA teams at least have Jamar on their radar. Remember, there is a huge difference between being an NBA draft pick, and making at least a training camp roster. I think Jamar at least gets invited to a summer league camp with a chance to make it to the final roster in the fall.

I agree. I don't know if he can develop the body to be an everyday nba guy, but he certainly has the potential to make a roster and earn some spot time imo. At the least he will make a nice living playing overseas.