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Elmore Smith
Elmore Smith (born May 9, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player born in Macon, Georgia. A 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) center from Kentucky State University, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Smith was born on May 9, 1949, in Macon, Georgia, and was a graduate of Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon.
As a 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) high school freshman, he did not make the team as he had no basketball skills. (It has also been reported that he did not try out for the team until two years later.) After sprouting to 7 feet (2.13 m) over the next two years, Smith said, "The principal threatened me: 'If you don't go out for basketball, we're going to kick you off campus.'" During high school, Smith attempted to enlist in the military three different times, but was rejected because of his height.
Smith made the team but rarely played, as he still had no basketball background and did not know how to dribble or shoot. Smith had only three college basketball scholarship offers "just by being tall and coordinated," he said. Smith was offered scholarships to Fort Valley State University, Wiley College and Kentucky State University, and intended go to Wiley College. However, Kentucky State coach Lucias Mitchell called Smith's mother, and he ultimately decided to attend Kentucky State. It has also been stated that he originally enrolled at Wiley College, but he was told by the school's basketball coach his playing time would be limited. So, he transferred to Kentucky State.
Smith is said in one report to have attended junior college for a year, and then transferred to Kentucky State University. He rapidly progressed as a player at Kentucky State once he started learning the game during basketball drills and focused skills training from his coaches.
He was a member of the 1970 and 1971 Kentucky State NAIA Championship teams, coached by Lucias Mitchell, playing alongside teammate Travis Grant. Smith was a second-team Division II All-American as a sophomore (1969-70). Both Smith and Grant were selected as first-team Division II (Little) All-Americans in 1970-71. Smith was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team in both 1970 and 1971
He is listed among the top rebounders in Division II men's college basketball history, with 1,917 total rebounds and a 22.6 rebound per game career average. No Division II player has had a higher career per game rebounding average since Smith left Kentucky State after 1971. He holds the NAIA/Division II college record for most rebounds in a season (799 rebounds in 1971), which is also higher than Walter Dukes's Division I record for rebounds in a season (734), and Joe Manley's Division III record for rebounds in a season (579). Teammate Grant is the all-time Division II leader in points scored (4,045) and points per game (33.4).
In his freshman year (1968-69), Smith averaged 14.8 points and 19.8 rebounds per game. In 1969–1970, he averaged 21.6 points and 22.7 rebounds. In 1970–1971, he averaged 25.5 points and 24.2 rebounds. After compiling career averages of 21.3 points and 22.6 rebounds, Smith left for the NBA in 1971, before his senior year.
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Elmore Smith
Elmore Smith (born May 9, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player born in Macon, Georgia. A 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) center from Kentucky State University, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Smith was born on May 9, 1949, in Macon, Georgia, and was a graduate of Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon.
As a 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) high school freshman, he did not make the team as he had no basketball skills. (It has also been reported that he did not try out for the team until two years later.) After sprouting to 7 feet (2.13 m) over the next two years, Smith said, "The principal threatened me: 'If you don't go out for basketball, we're going to kick you off campus.'" During high school, Smith attempted to enlist in the military three different times, but was rejected because of his height.
Smith made the team but rarely played, as he still had no basketball background and did not know how to dribble or shoot. Smith had only three college basketball scholarship offers "just by being tall and coordinated," he said. Smith was offered scholarships to Fort Valley State University, Wiley College and Kentucky State University, and intended go to Wiley College. However, Kentucky State coach Lucias Mitchell called Smith's mother, and he ultimately decided to attend Kentucky State. It has also been stated that he originally enrolled at Wiley College, but he was told by the school's basketball coach his playing time would be limited. So, he transferred to Kentucky State.
Smith is said in one report to have attended junior college for a year, and then transferred to Kentucky State University. He rapidly progressed as a player at Kentucky State once he started learning the game during basketball drills and focused skills training from his coaches.
He was a member of the 1970 and 1971 Kentucky State NAIA Championship teams, coached by Lucias Mitchell, playing alongside teammate Travis Grant. Smith was a second-team Division II All-American as a sophomore (1969-70). Both Smith and Grant were selected as first-team Division II (Little) All-Americans in 1970-71. Smith was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team in both 1970 and 1971
He is listed among the top rebounders in Division II men's college basketball history, with 1,917 total rebounds and a 22.6 rebound per game career average. No Division II player has had a higher career per game rebounding average since Smith left Kentucky State after 1971. He holds the NAIA/Division II college record for most rebounds in a season (799 rebounds in 1971), which is also higher than Walter Dukes's Division I record for rebounds in a season (734), and Joe Manley's Division III record for rebounds in a season (579). Teammate Grant is the all-time Division II leader in points scored (4,045) and points per game (33.4).
In his freshman year (1968-69), Smith averaged 14.8 points and 19.8 rebounds per game. In 1969–1970, he averaged 21.6 points and 22.7 rebounds. In 1970–1971, he averaged 25.5 points and 24.2 rebounds. After compiling career averages of 21.3 points and 22.6 rebounds, Smith left for the NBA in 1971, before his senior year.
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