Who needs a 3 when you can score a 4.0? In the fall of 2021, 16-year NBA veteran JR Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University and joined the golf team as a walk-on. Now, in his second semester at HBCU, the two-time NBA champion is already earning accolades in the classroom.
On Monday, the 36-year-old – who was originally slated to play basketball in North Carolina before jumping from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey, to the 2004 NBA draft – was named an Aggies varsity athlete. the year.
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) April 25, 2022
YES SIR @TheRealJRSmith!! Proud of you kid!!! brother love https://t.co/gqwOLnlcdw
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 26, 2022
The news comes a week after clothing brand Lululemon signed Smith to be its golf ambassador through a name, image and likeness deal. The athlete known to hoops fans as “JR Swish” is the first male golfer to sign a brand ambassador deal with Lululemon.
In January, Smith signed with Excel Sports Management to represent NIL. At the time, Smith’s agent, Lance Young, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that golf apparel and equipment manufacturers were very interested in sponsoring the hugely popular (£6.2 million) college athlete. followers on Instagram only).
Smith first revealed that he was excelling in class at the end of the fall semester. On December 14, Smith took to social media to share that he had achieved his goal of earning a 4.0 GPA.
JR thought he was just short of his 4.0 goal this semester only to be surprised by the good news today 🙌 @TheRealJRSmith pic.twitter.com/0mLyPSV9R6
— Sports Center (@SportsCenter) December 14, 2021
In a video posted the same day, Smith was clearly emotional. “I can’t even describe the feeling,” he said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this s—.”
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 ask the NCAA to be eligible to play.
Somewhere there, Jesus Shuttlesworth shines.
