Smith loaded -- in the metaphorical sense
Anyone worried about former Tennessee Volunteer forward Tyler Smith’s viability in the upcoming NBA draft and/or his ability to play basketball after dealing with an arrest, court case, and dismissal from his college team within five weeks of early 2010 can put their worries at ease: Smith is back and just as good as ever.
After getting bounced from Tennessee’s hallowed halls, Smith signed a quickie two-month contract with Bornova Belediye, filling in for the injured Kendrick Brown. All he did in his first game for Bornova was go 5-of-5 on two-pointers plus a couple of threes for a team second-high 17 points. Talk about your immediate gratification.
Unfortunately, the outcome was none too gratifying for Smith and Bornova, who were crushed in the Saturday match by Eurocup contender Türk Telecom, 104-79. TT boasted a headline-grabbing American newcomer of its own in freed Los Angeles Clipper Ricky Davis, who managed a line of eight points, six assists and five boards.
A few more games like this out of Smith and he might just climb a mock draft board or two, from which now he’s mostly omitted. On the other hand, youth Tyler just might decide he likes it on The Continent…
Bornova is currently sitting at 10-11 in TBL ball and is mired in a four-way tie for seventh place on the table; they’ll host fourth-place Besiktas Cola Turka (14-7) this weekend.
