The Jazz acquire cash considerations and a future second-round pick in the trade with the Thunder. Smith, 36, enrolled at North Carolina A&T; on Aug. 11, pursuing a degree in liberal studies with the intention of joining the golf team while awaiting a decision from the NCAA regarding his eligibility. Recently, now that his NBA days are behind him, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T to pursue a degree in liberal studies and is hoping to get a spot on the Aggies' golf team. So happy and proud of you my brother @TheRealJRSmith!!!! 18. BURLINGTON, N.C. J.R. Smith couldnt help but feel anxious. Smith said he has a 5 handicap and started playing golf 12 years ago with the encouragement of late NBA great Moses Malone. At the time, Smith's agent, Lance Young, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that there was high interest from golf apparel and equipment manufacturers in sponsoring the enormously popular (6.2 million followers on Instagram alone) college athlete. Here's what you need to know from the last week in college golf. You can read about those travels here and catch his latest thoughts on the Drop Zone Podcast: Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart | PodBean, GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Heres how J.R. Smiths first college golf tournament played out. As the Associated press reports, Smith participated in an online press conference Monday, in which he revealed his excitement over his impending college career. Smith, who qualified to play in the No. Now he was diving headfirst into the world of higher education at the age of 36 with the stated mission of playing college golf. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. "It's so fun," Simpson said of coaching. Smith first revealed that he was excelling in the classroom at the end of the fall semester. Plus, from the looks of the video below and a handful of tweets from those on-site, Smith really had it going to start the day before things got away from him. Smith was awarded a tee time after qualifying in practice by one stroke. Playing for a score as opposed to just playing for your ego and pride. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. On Dec. 14, Smith took to social media to share he had achieved his goal of earning a 4.0 grade-point average. That is what you would probably expect from a world-class athlete trying to contend on a fairly high level in a sport he has not played competitively for extended periods of time. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies hits a tee shot on the 6th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. At the time, Smiths agent, Lance Young, told ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski that there was high interest from golf apparel and equipment manufacturers in sponsoring the enormously popular (6.2 million followers on Instagram alone) college athlete. DAMN IM BEYOND PROUD OF MY BROTHER!. 7 things I noticed inside NBA champion J.R. 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Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith has transitioned from the court to the golf course and classroom effortlessly. Its not even a week yet but as I get into it, I keep getting eager to learn more, and join study groups and try to understand and try to really embrace the lifestyle, Smith said. "I dont give a damn whether he wants to stay or go," Smith said. The news comes a week after apparel brand Lululemon signed Smith to be its golf ambassador through a name, image and likeness deal. @WFMY @ncatsuaggies pic.twitter.com/s7q6rpk1pa, Brian Hall (@bhallwfmy) October 11, 2021, He has a good enough golf game to put up some good numbers, said head coach Richard Watkins a week before Smiths debut. Smith went straight from St. Benedicts Preparatory School in New Jersey to the NBA, where he was drafted 18th overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2004. 5 spot on North Carolina A&T's team, made two birdies and two doubles in his first five holes of play on Monday. Smith had the sixth-best score out of six players on his team. The two-time @NBA champ is enrolling @NCATAggies with his sights set on the golf team. North Carolina A&Ts first tournament of the fall season is the Black College Golf Association Invitational on Sept. 24-25 at in Newman, Ga. Well have to wait and see whether or not Smith makes his college golf debut then. Love bro https://t.co/gqwOLnlcdw. Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year, with a 4.0 GPA:JR Smith, Men's Golf (: @Turkin35) pic.twitter.com/wPyIb9zNkm. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Miles Albright of the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, Pedro Rabadan of the Elon Phoenix and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls wait to tee off to begin the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Its not golf 24/7 even though he enrolled in part to play on the universitys golf team. Playing when there is nothing on the line is one thing. Proud of you Kid!!! All three players will return for repeat runs in L.A., including championships for Howard (2020) and Ariza (2009). Then along came the virus. Anthony Ford, competing as an individual, shot an 11-over 82. followed @TheRealJRSmith for the first five holes today in his first tournament as a member of the @NCATAGGIES Golf Team. On Monday, the 36-year-old -- who was originally slated to play basketball at North Carolina before jumping from St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, New Jersey, to the NBA draft in 2004 -- was named the Aggies' Academic Athlete of the Year. Discovery Company. When Smith first earned his 4.0, he celebrated on Twitter, saying, "I can't even describe the feeling, I ain't even gonna lie to you. To the surprise of absolutely no one, that old Cardale Jones tweet made quite the comeback. The Aggies first golf match comes Sept. 24-25 at the Black College Golf Coaches Association Invitational in Newnan, Georgia. Smith is excelling both athletically and academically at North Carolina A&T J.R. Smith's hard work this year has paid off. The former NBA player turned college student athlete was named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year. Smith earned a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in liberal studies and competing on the golf team. Smith earned a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in liberal studies and competing on the golf team. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls drive, J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies and Joey Morganti of the Temple Owls drive to the next hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Two-time NBA champion JR Smith, making his collegiate golf debut for North Carolina A&T, finished in 81st place out 84 entries after shooting a 79 in the final Love bro. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775722383 ORIG FILE ID: 1346025445, Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to, Fans and media follow J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies as he walks to the 13th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. Interestingly, Smith was paired with Pedro Rabadan of Elon, who leads the event after Day 1. I didnt really know what to expect., Despite Smiths up-and-down rounds, former teammate and NBA superstar LeBron James expressed his admiration for the debutant golfer. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Two-time NBA champ J.R. Smith is officially taking his talents to college golf. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. Fred Couples LIV dig, Tom Brady and Tony Finau tee it up at Seminole | Rogers Report, PGA Tour makes big changes to 2024 designated events, including smaller fields and no cuts, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, Rory McIlroy reveals how Tiger Woods influenced recent driver switch, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. While his score was dropped from the Aggies team total for the first round (the format is play five players, count your best four scores), Smith did beat one of his teammates in the first 18. pic.twitter.com/RDNJGhiRaw. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. In his second round of the day, it followed a similar pattern: a good start with a difficult finish. JR Smith analyzes his yardage book during his first collegiate golf tournament Monday. As for Smiths college golf career, that remains to be seen. Smith -- who won titles with LeBron James in 2016 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers -- credited a conversation with Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen as the catalyst for his decision to petition the NCAA to be eligible to play. Its not Rose Zhang at Stanford or Pierceson Coody at Texas, two of the best college players on the planet. But its still as nerve-racking as shooting a free throw in front of 5,000 instead of making a 5-foot putt in front of three. Now, instead of first-class cross-country travel for nightly games against the worlds best basketball players, Smith who turns 36 next month is focused on completing class assignments and working on his golf game. Alamance Country Club is the venue for the week, a par 71 layout measuring 6,867 yards. RELATED: J.R. Smith finally played Pine Valleyand then bought the entire pro shop. J.R. Smith is becoming a college student and he's hoping to become a college athlete as well. When J.R. Smith announced his plans to enroll at North Carolina A&T State University in order to play college golf late last summer, the jokes came rolling in. We cant believe were saying this, but Smith might be better at playing school than playing golf. -via ESPN / April 26, 2022, LeBron James: YESSIR @TheRealJRSmith !! Check out the best photos of Smiths time as a college golfer. Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. section: | slug: j-r-smith-shoots-83-78-in-college-debut-for-north-carolina-a-t-at-elon-phoenix-invitational | sport: golf | route: article_single.us | Smith, who won NBA championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers alongside LeBron James, recently started college classes at North Carolina A&T, with the plans of getting a liberal arts degree. appreciated. The third and final round will get underway at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Did you encounter any technical issues? Proud of you Kid!!! Smith warms up with his fellow competitors before the Phoenix Invitational. And Smith got off to a pretty solid start, making two birdies in the first five holes. Elons Pedro Rabadan led after the first 18 holes with a 6-under 65. What do we make of the PGA Tours new Designated Events Model? Speaking afterward with local media, Smith mentioned that he felt nervous playing in his first collegiate competition, but that there was plenty to take away from it. 9 to within a foot from the pin. About. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome), J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies reacts as his putt slides past the hole, J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies reacts as his putt slides past the hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience. Smith made six consecutive bogeys, finally breaking that streak with a double bogey on the 3rd hole (his 17th) before finishing off with another bogey to shoot a 10-over 81. 2023 Cable News Network. 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