K.J. Smith Embraces His Dad's Legacy and His
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Weekend Preview Visit page 8 to read about the athletic events happening this weekend. 126 YEARS OF SERVING UNC STUDENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 VOLUME 127, ISSUE 21 K.J. Smith embraces his dad’s legacy and his own By Parth Upadhyaya Senior Writer Sporting a sweat-drenched prac- tice jersey, Carolina blue shorts and Air Jordan sneakers, K.J. Smith stares up at the rafters of the Smith Center. He hears head coach Roy Williams yell after the team struggles to secure a rebound in an in-practice scrimmage. “You see McAdoo, you see Montross,” Williams shouts, pointing towards the 53 honored and retired jerseys hanging from beams of the arena’s roof. The Hall of Fame coach often ref- erences greats who have left their mark on the North Carolina basket- ball program to motivate his players. This time, he uses two former All- Americans who he believes wouldn’t have made the mistake his team just had. Though K.J.’s ears register the message, his eyes begin to wan - der elsewhere: a few feet left of Montross’ 00, to the jersey with the No. 30 and his last name. The one that hangs to honor his father, Kenny Smith, the Tar Heels’ second all-time assists leader and 1987 consensus first-team All-American. “And I’m like, ‘Man, that’s crazy,’” K.J. said. “‘He really did something great here.’ And that’s super inspiring.” DTH FILE/EMILY CAROLINE SARTIN DTH FILE/TARYN REVOIR K.J., a redshirt sophomore walk- “I just feel like I’m a younger version of him almost,” K.J. Smith says regarding his dad, Kenny Smith, a former UNC basketball player and two-time NBA champion. on point guard for the Tar Heels, dons the same number his father a Tar Heel in UNC’s second game No matter the internal or external coach Damon Stoudamire at Pacific. A few days later, K.J.’s phone rang wore. For a while, he even rocked the at Elon, it was off a slick half-spin tensions for K.J., Kenny made sure while he was on a movie date. He same flattop haircut the elder Smith hesitation move he learned from to remind him he shouldn’t feel ‘Baby Jet’ saw the Chapel Hill area code and — nicknamed “The Jet” for his elu- former Michigan State standout compelled to follow in his footsteps. ran out of the theater mid-film. On siveness on the court — did during Steve Smith during the 2005 NBA “I used to say, ‘If grandpa was a When Kenny received a call from the phone was Williams, as candid his UNC playing days. All-Star Weekend in Denver. brain surgeon, that wouldn’t make K.J. one day in April 2017 to let him with K.J. as he is with any recruit. “I just feel like I’m a younger version But, with unique experiences me a brain surgeon,’” Kenny said. know he wanted to transfer from “You might not ever play, but I do of him almost,” he said with a laugh. came a special kind of pressure. “‘You gotta put the work in to be a Pacific, it caught him by surprise. play the best players,” Williams told It isn’t hard to tell K.J. now fully And as a high schooler in Calabasas, brain surgeon. So if you wanna play Although K.J. says being at Pacific K.J. “If you get to the point where embraces his dad’s legacy, to the point Calif., it weighed on him. basketball, you just gotta put the work helped him find his own identity, he you could play, you’ll be on the floor.” of letting his teammates call him “Baby “When we were playing AAU and in. And everyone’s path is different.’” wanted a change of scenery after one K.J., having built confidence in Jet.” But it wasn’t always easy for the going to these trips in the summer K.J.’s mother, Dawn Reavis, season. Especially after he grew frus- his individuality, enrolled three 22-year-old to be the namesake of the in Vegas and all the college coaches always wanted her son to attend trated with fluctuating playing time. weeks later. two-time NBA champion. are there and there’s pressure to per- North Carolina, also her alma mater. Kenny’s first thought was to call Even then, Kenny didn’t realize form, that’s when I felt ‘I’m Kenny But when it came time to consider his former assistant coach, Roy how much his son had learned to ‘Everyone’s path is different’ Smith’s son,’” K.J. said. schools, K.J. told her he was reluc- Williams. But he didn’t ask Williams embrace his roots. Though K.J. admits he placed tant to choose UNC for the fear of to add his son to the roster at UNC. Until that October, the day of Even before he began playing much of the burden of living up to being compared to his father. Instead, he asked him to contact Late Night with Roy, an event that organized basketball as a 5-year- his father’s legacy on himself, he was So, Reavis backed off. And K.J., other coaches regarding K.J. Kenny emceed. An hour before the old, K.J. was around some of the often a popular target on the court. having few scholarship offers follow- Williams paused a few minutes festivities, Kenny got a call from game’s best. Kids were motivated to lock up and ing his prep year at IMG Academy in into the call. When he scored his first basket as score on Kenny Smith’s son. Bradenton, Fla., chose to play for head “Just send him here,” Williams said. SEE SMITH, PAGE 7 Plaque stolen from Franklin Street found, returned by police By Julia Masters The Orange County 911 who began searching for the owner. Billy Sessions of the group about the legality of the placement Staff Writer Communications Division received “As far as it being put back, we Confederate 901 released a video after or removal of historical plaques a call on Friday reporting the memo- don’t understand it to be that the the plaque’s removal, saying that it and markers, as well as who has the The plaque commemorating the rial plaque on Franklin Street was plaque was put there in official was in possession of the Confederates. authority to remove them. This is in woman referenced in Julian Carr’s being removed after being installed capacity, so in that case, it would just “It was Confederates who went and part due to uncertainty over 2015 1913 Silent Sam dedication speech earlier that same week. need to be returned to the owner that took it. People who supported Silent North Carolina legislation protecting that was removed last Friday evening “The caller gave a description of we understand,” Northam said. Sam,” Sessions said in the video. historical monuments. was put back in its original location the vehicle that was in the process of Once the plaque was in police Sessions said he received this Attorney for the Town of Chapel on Franklin Street on Wednesday. removing that plaque, and that vehi- possession, Northam said the Town information via a phone call he Hill, Ralph Karpinos, wrote to N.C. “When the opportunity rose for a cle was stopped by an Orange County could not reinstate the plaque since received after the plaque was Attorney General Josh Stein in few of community members to rein- Sheriff’s deputy on Friday evening,” it was not originally erected in an removed. He said a few people January 2019 to see who had the stall the monument, we leapt at the said Ran Northam, community safe- official manner. Because the owner planned to go and remove the plaque authority to remove the Jefferson opportunity because we understand ty communications specialist for the was unknown to the Town, the per- who were not affiliated with a partic- Davis memorial highway marker on its importance and the broader impor- Town of Chapel Hill. son who removed the plaque was not ular organization. Franklin Street. tance of placing these monuments,” After the driver was stopped and charged, according to Northam. He said he personally does not “We are waiting on a ruling from Calvin Deutschbein, a UNC graduate questioned, the plaque was removed Deutschbein said he was upset have a problem with the plaque, only the attorney general to see what really student and one of the original placers from the vehicle. It was returned to but not surprised by the removal of that it was put up unlawfully. of the plaque, said in an email. the Chapel Hill Police Department the plaque. Northam said the Town is unsure SEE PLAQUE, PAGE 7 CAROLINA ATHLETICS WEEKEND BASEBALL VS. USF MEN’S LACROSSE VS. JOHNS HOPKINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NC STATE FRI., FEBRUARY 22 AT 3PM • BOSHAMER STADIUM SAT., FEBRUARY 23 AT NOON • KENAN STADIUM SUN., FEBRUARY 24 AT NOON • CARMICHAEL ARENA +2 FEVER POINTS +2 FEVER POINTS +2 FEVER POINTS FREE PLAY4KAY PINK SHIRTS TO FIRST 450 STUDENTS ADMISSION TO THESE EVENTS IS FREE FOR UNC STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF WITH A VALID UNC ONE CARD. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a living. DOLLY PARTON 2 Friday, February 22, 2019 News The Daily Tar Heel The Daily Tar Heel Established 1893 How legacy factors into UNC admissions 125 years of editorial freedom RACHEL JONES The University sends a letter For out-of-state applicants, Luck EDITOR-IN-CHIEF said legacy status is only one of many [email protected] to alumni parents with factors considered in admissions.