What do we make of the PGA Tours new Designated Events Model? RELATED: J.R. Smith says he watches Golf Channel instead of the NBA Playoffs. Whatever you do, dont go rushing to conclusions about Smiths game. For now, Smith shot 83-78 and beat a pair of La Salle golfers as North Carolina A&T sits in 11th place (of 13 teams) after Day 1 of competition. pic.twitter.com/RDNJGhiRaw. Love bro https://t.co/gqwOLnlcdw. 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. A Warner Bros. 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. But this is what I tell people. JR Smith made a 16-year NBA career out of embarrassing defenders, bucket after bucket. If you havent been there, youre not a golfer. 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. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. Pulling up to the range at my first college tournament! (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. J.R. Smith is becoming a college student and he's hoping to become a college athlete as well. Its going to be fun. Smith been tweeting all kinds of revelations since his first week on campus. Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). Did you encounter any technical issues? The former NBA player turned college student athlete was named North Carolina A&T's Academic Athlete of the Year. The two-time NBA champion is in the middle of his first semester at NC A&T, where he is playing on the golf team, a move that has been widely covered and that he has explained in depth. 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. All Rights Reserved. The former sixth man of the year was named North Carolina A&T;s Academic Athlete of the Year with a 4.0 GPA on Monday. Published 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. 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. The 35-year-old two-time NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, who has enrolled at North Carolina A&T as a freshman walk-on, shot a 10-over 81 on Monday in the first round of the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina. if his first semester report card is any indication, he meant it. Discovery Company. 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. J.R. Smith Made His College Golf Debut and it Was Pretty Fascinating Morning Read's Ward Clayton was there when the 36-year-old former NBA star shot an About. Undoubtedly. Regardless, the outcome for Smith is good, and his swing looked fantastic. So I dont know how Im going to do.. J.R. Smith is a two-time NBA champion and a former Sixth Man of the year who earned millions of dollars over the course of his 16 seasons. 6:33 AM EDT, Tue October 12, 2021. JR Smith had a big, bright personality during his 16-year NBA career. [It was] a learning experience, he said. 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. Former NBA star J.R. Smith on how basketball is likegolf?! In the second round, we saw much of the same from the first round: a solid start followed by a leaky finish. The third and final round will get underway at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. I just know how to compete with myself, Smith said. In January, Smith signed an NIL deal with Excel Sports Management. 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. The news comes a week after apparel brand Lululemon signed Smith to be its golf ambassador through a name, image and likeness deal. Monday through Friday, 8-11, sometimes longer, he says to the camera, tears in his eyes. followed @TheRealJRSmith for the first five holes today in his first tournament as a member of the @NCATAGGIES Golf Team. Learning how to play in competition. One of the coolest non-tour golf stories of the year belongs to J.R. Smith. 9 to within a foot from the pin. He remained in the middle of the leaderboard through the front nine at one over par. The two-time NBA champion finished 81st out of 84 in his first competitive college tournament back in October, adding insult to injury when he stepped on a hornets nest midway through his second round. Two-time NBA champion JR Smith made his college golf debut on Monday exactly a year to the day after he won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/RDNJGhiRaw. Pulling up to the range at my first college tournament! The athlete known to hoops fans as JR Swish is the first male golfer to sign a brand ambassador deal with Lululemon. He is primarily pursuing a degree in liberal studies his classes started on August 18 but he is now playing golf for one of the nations top historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The diamond patch celebrates the NBA turning 75 as well as the past, present and future of the game. Check out the best photos of Smiths time as a college golfer. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much I ain't gonna lie. @WFMY @ncatsuaggies pic.twitter.com/s7q6rpk1pa. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. After retiring from basketball the35-year-old decided to enroll at North Carolina A&T and walk on as a freshman. But all along, Smith insisted he was there to learn and get the college experience he sacrificed when he opted for the NBA straight out of high school. Because if Im going to give it a shot, thats the only way its going to work.. "It's so fun," Simpson said of coaching. The athlete known to hoops fans as JR Swish is the first male golfer to sign a brand ambassador deal with Lululemon. We wouldnt pick apart your abilities based off one single round, so dont do that to him. The 18-year veteran flourished in a bench role last season with the Blazers, averaging 13.4 points in 24.5 minutes while shooting 40.9% from deep. The 2-time NBA Champion is now a freshman walk-on for the North Carolina A&T mens golf team.. 9 to within a foot from the pin. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies marks his ball before the, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies marks his ball before the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. Age: 21; Year: Junior; Hometown: Hampton, Georgia JR Smith officially begins college at North Carolina A&T, joins Smith first revealed that he was excelling in the classroom at the end of the fall semester. (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. Can you imagine being the fifth guy for George Mason or Radford and rolling up to somebody who was flying private with LeBron James 12 months ago and made $88.3 million over the course of his career? Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies tees off to begin his, Former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies tees off to begin his first competitive round of collegiate golf at the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. He finished with a 7-over 78 to move up a few spots in the leaderboard. Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. Proud of you Kid!!! Smith went right to the NBA after high school, so he missed out on the college experience. So it all correlates the same for me.. Its not Rose Zhang at Stanford or Pierceson Coody at Texas, two of the best college players on the planet. Smith hung in there strong for 10 holes, and was in the middle of the pack on the leaderboard at just one over before things took a turn for the worse. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. The NCAA bars athletes from competing in college sports if theyve played in the pro ranks, but the rules only apply to the sport the player made money in professionally. 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. pic.twitter.com/MOPVusR4zE. Our man started one over through the first nine holes of his round, but then promptly double-bogeyed the par-3 14th (his 10th). How about during freshman year? Love bro. Smith hits his tee shot on the 9th hole during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club. Perhaps best of all, however, is how much it clearly means to Smith. Ben Jared. Unfortunately, he only made one other birdie over his next 31 holes of play on the day (golfers played 36 on Monday at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, North Carolina). pic.twitter.com/WlCNZ8cCvk, followed @TheRealJRSmith for the first five holes today in his first tournament as a member of the @NCATAGGIES Golf Team. Former NBA guard J.R. Smith made his college golf debut for North Carolina A&T on Monday at the Elon Phoenix Invitational, and that sentence alone might Here's what you need to know from the last week in college golf. Elons Pedro Rabadan led after the first 18 holes with a Smith clearly loves it enough to dive in regardless and risk, failure or frustration for the opportunity at success in a world where it is so fleeting. "I'm hoping it puts pressure on the two guys playing with him," said Watkins. BURLINGTON, N.C. J.R. Smith couldnt help but feel anxious. Learning how to play from the rough in certain areas. RELATED: J.R. Smith finally played Pine Valleyand then bought the entire pro shop. Smith-Njigba is coming off a season in which a nagging hamstring injury limited him to five catches total, but he led Ohio State in catches (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021. 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. Instead, he chose to enter the 2004 NBA draft and was picked by the then-New Orleans Hornets at No. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA, A detailed photo of the small Nike shoe used as a putter cover by former NBA player J.R. Smith of the North Caroina A&T Aggies during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. 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. Now, in his second semester at the HBCU, the two-time NBA champion is already earning accolades in the classroom. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. "I'm hoping it does not affect him. Its a lot different than playing a round with your buddies at the random public courses.. J.R. Smith to make college golf debut. Smith has documented his time in college and has been open about studying, getting his schoolwork doneand all the stresses that come with college work. 2. Since Smith wanted to play on the golf team, and not the basketball team, the green light was given. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), North Carolina A&T's JR Smith waits to putt on the 17th green during the first round, North Carolina A&T's JR Smith waits to putt on the 17th green during the first round of the Phoenix Invitational golf tournament in Burlington, N.C., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Alamance Country Club is the venue for the week, a par 71 layout measuring 6,867 yards. Smith is a walk on and earned his position not only on the team, but in this weeks lineup. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images), J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at, J.R. Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies watches his shot during the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club on October 11, 2021 in Burlington, North Carolina. 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