JR Smith 👏🏼

[TiScape]

NBA champion JR Smith who has a net worth north of $30 million dollars, is headed to college to get his degree. He was drafted directly out of HS. Also wants to try to make the schools golf team (5 handicap so…) Good for him! 👏🏼 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pgatour.com/news/2021/08/11/nba-champion-j-r-smith-is-headed-back-to-school-college-golf.amp.html

[MikeW2]

Saw that too, I think it’s pretty cool if he can make it.

[MtlJeff]

Love it, classic JR. 

 

Cool story

[Qqq123xx]

Yeah great stuff. He plays to a 5 handy. 

[MikeW2]

Is a 5 handicap good enough to play college golf? I know he might make team because of who he is and the positive attention it could bring to that program but would another 5 attempting to make the team get considered?

[indianagolf2]

Very nice. LeBron James freaking out when jr brain froze after catching foul shot and brain freeze vs golden state was epic. 

[MtlJeff]

50 minutes ago, indianagolf2 said:

Very nice. LeBron James freaking out when jr brain froze after catching foul shot and brain freeze vs golden state was epic. 

 

Yeah--But our boy JR also did stuff like this

 

 

 

[indianagolf2]

V nice 

[Abh159]

On 8/12/2021 at 5:32 PM, TiScape said:

NBA champion JR Smith who has a net worth north of $30 million dollars, is headed to college to get his degree. He was drafted directly out of HS. Also wants to try to make the schools golf team (5 handicap so…) Good for him! 👏🏼 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pgatour.com/news/2021/08/11/nba-champion-j-r-smith-is-headed-back-to-school-college-golf.amp.html

 

Very cool story, and I hope he can bring some attention to the team and other HBCU golf programs. 

 

Although I will say I was a bit surprised to hear his net worth is only around $30 million when he made well over $90 million in his career. Maybe he should find a way to throw in a few finance classes while getting that liberal studies degree 😬.

[TiScape]

21 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

Very cool story, and I hope he can bring some attention to the team and other HBCU golf programs. 

 

Although I will say I was a bit surprised to hear his net worth is only around $30 million when he made well over $90 million in his career. Maybe he should find a way to throw in a few finance classes while getting that liberal studies degree 😬.

Great point. I’m sure he will.

Edited August 18, 2021 by TiScape

[MtlJeff]

On 8/18/2021 at 2:57 PM, TiScape said:

Great point. I’m sure he will.

Is it THAT bad? I mean his 90M would he taxed at what, 40% or so? After agent fees etc...

 

I mean, I'm sure he's got a few houses and some Ferraris

 

I feel like 30M left isn't super horrible. As long as that's properly invested

 

 

[TiScape]

18 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

Is it THAT bad? I mean his 90M would he taxed at what, 40% or so? After agent fees etc...

 

I mean, I'm sure he's got a few houses and some Ferraris

 

I feel like 30M left isn't super horrible. As long as that's properly invested

 

 

I was being sarcastic and agree with you Jeff! 
I look at it like, here you have a feel good story about someone striving to better themselves by seeking higher education. Made even more special by the fact that this individual clearly isn’t motivated to do so for financial gain. So whether he has grossed $90 million over his career or $190 million. He is only 35yo, currently worth over $30 million dollars and doesn’t need to work another day in his life and is striving for higher education.  Bravo 

Edited August 20, 2021 by TiScape

[tiderider]

On 8/13/2021 at 7:36 PM, MikeW2 said:

Is a 5 handicap good enough to play college golf? I know he might make team because of who he is and the positive attention it could bring to that program but would another 5 attempting to make the team get considered?

probably not ...

 

?? ... anyone attempting to make the team gets considered ... doubt they give even a complete partial ride for golfers at such a small college ... he's not getting on the team unless he scores better than anyone else trying to make the team ... doesn't need a scholly ... sounds like he's making a legit attempt to enjoy college, get a degree and chase a golf dream ... and he ain't jordan ... not gonna buy a swanky bus for the team, like jordan did for the b'ham bulls ... 

[tiderider]

On 8/19/2021 at 9:18 PM, TiScape said:

I was being sarcastic and agree with you Jeff! 
I look at it like, here you have a feel good story about someone striving to better themselves by seeking higher education. Made even more special by the fact that this individual clearly isn’t motivated to do so for financial gain. So whether he has grossed $90 million over his career or $190 million. He is only 35yo, currently worth over $30 million dollars and doesn’t need to work another day in his life and is striving for higher education.  Bravo 

think he really wants a taste of 'college' life, and a chance to chase a golf dream ... but it's a damned good story either way ... 

[TiScape]

54 minutes ago, tiderider said:

think he really wants a taste of 'college' life, and a chance to chase a golf dream ... but it's a damned good story either way ... 

When you say “college” life, like he wants to party? If so, I’m pretty sure he could party like a rockstar 7 days a week without having to do any homework if he were so inclined. 😝 

[caniac6]

On 8/20/2021 at 11:27 PM, tiderider said:

probably not ...

 

?? ... anyone attempting to make the team gets considered ... doubt they give even a complete partial ride for golfers at such a small college ... he's not getting on the team unless he scores better than anyone else trying to make the team ... doesn't need a scholly ... sounds like he's making a legit attempt to enjoy college, get a degree and chase a golf dream ... and he ain't jordan ... not gonna buy a swanky bus for the team, like jordan did for the b'ham bulls ... 

NC A&T has an enrollment of 12,700+, so not that small. I believe it's the largest HBCU. They play in the Big South Conference, and I'm sure they are the largest school in the conference by a pretty good margin. I went to school with the golf coach, but haven't seen him since.

[tiderider]

On 8/20/2021 at 11:24 PM, TiScape said:

When you say “college” life, like he wants to party? If so, I’m pretty sure he could party like a rockstar 7 days a week without having to do any homework if he were so inclined. 😝 

don't know the guy or much about his story, but from what he's said, sounds to me like he just wants to enjoy the process of getting a degree/taking classes, and participating in the various activities associated with college life ... dunno ... 

[tiderider]

3 hours ago, caniac6 said:

NC A&T has an enrollment of 12,700+, so not that small. I believe it's the largest HBCU. They play in the Big South Conference, and I'm sure they are the largest school in the conference by a pretty good margin. I went to school with the golf coach, but haven't seen him since.

do you think they're going to give him a scholly over someone else, regardless of score/ability? ... i wouldn't think so, but i'm not a college golfer or elite athlete ... 

[caniac6]

1 hour ago, tiderider said:

do you think they're going to give him a scholly over someone else, regardless of score/ability? ... i wouldn't think so, but i'm not a college golfer or elite athlete ... 

I'd be surprised if he wants a scholarship.

[Abh159]

Out of curiosity I looked up their current roster for this season ('21 - '22). They only had 6 total players listed and 1 of those was JR Smith. Him being on the team might have as much to do with the need to of have a full roster as it does with publicity.

 

FWIW looking at their results from last year and the year before it seems like their #4/5 players tend to hover somewhere between 78 - 85 and occasionally into the low 90's in tournaments. As a 5 cap he'll be far from the best player on the team, but he should at least have an opportunity to make the travelling squad and compete in some tournaments.

 

Should be a fun/interesting story to follow as the year progresses. I'm sure ESPN and the Golf Channel will show the occasional highlights when he does play.

[ilikegolf26]

On 8/13/2021 at 8:36 PM, MikeW2 said:

Is a 5 handicap good enough to play college golf? I know he might make team because of who he is and the positive attention it could bring to that program but would another 5 attempting to make the team get considered?

No, it’s not. I don’t know about NC A&T but if a 5 handicap is good enough to play on the team it’s probably a terrible collegiate golf program. 

[UncleJohn’sBand]

JR actually came up to Martinsville to play our course a few weekends back. 

 

Richard is a member and brought him up. He made the team and helped them out a little bit. I want to say he shot around 80 or so his first time around, which isn't terrible at all considering we were prepping for the invitational and had the greens rolling like 12.5. 

 

Seriously good on him wanting to go back and get a degree after his playing career. If I get to play with him, Ill let everyone know how it goes!

[Abh159]

Saw that JR is playing in his first college tournament this week. Looks like he had it going pretty well for part of the round (+1 through 10 holes), but then played the last 8 holes at +9 to shoot 81. 

[tiderider]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/04/08/jr-smith-college-golf/

 

recent article ... lengthy, but good read ... 

Smith blows warm air into his hands while he waits his turn on the tee box. His two playing partners are White. He doesn’t say much at first, but Logan Kiley, a freshman from Maryland Eastern Shore, can’t pass up the opportunity to chat up Smith.

“Do people go crazy when they see you on campus?”

Smith purses his lips and nods. There’s no blending in when you look like him, neither here nor when he walks through A&T’s student center.

“Don’t tell me you’re eating at the caf,” Kiley says.

“Yeah, Chick-fil-A!” Smith says. They laugh, and then Smith watches as his playing partners hit drives into the fairway. Now it’s Smith’s turn. He swings, makes contact and watches the ball.

“Oh, no,” Smith says as it soars left. “Fore! FORE!!”

Edited April 10, 2022 by tiderider

[llewol007]

Nothing wrong with that. As long as he qualifies with the right amount of units and makes the team, that is a pretty cool experience 

[grm24]

 

Well done.

[Murphy76]

 

I don't give a flip if he's going there for golf.  I'm just encouraged to see a role model  interested in returning to education.  

 

Maybe I'm being nieve, but I hope his motivation isn't golf.  

 

There are far better venues for an ex NBA star to play golf than college....

[grm24]

On 4/25/2022 at 11:12 PM, Murphy76 said:

 

I don't give a flip if he's going there for golf.  I'm just encouraged to see a role model  interested in returning to education.  

 

Maybe I'm being nieve, but I hope his motivation isn't golf.  

It's not. He was going to attend North Carolina on a basketball scholarship when he was graduating high school. He decided to enter the NBA draft instead. Won 2 NBA titles and made a ton of money. However he always wanted to get a college degree.  

 

https://golf.com/lifestyle/celebrities/jr-smith-explains-why-didnt-go-to-college-off-course/

[grm24]

Well done J.R.

 

 

[TiScape]

On 4/25/2022 at 8:12 PM, Murphy76 said:

 

I don't give a flip if he's going there for golf.  I'm just encouraged to see a role model  interested in returning to education.  

 

Maybe I'm being nieve, but I hope his motivation isn't golf.  

 

There are far better venues for an ex NBA star to play golf than college....

Steph completed his degree from Davidson recently. Considering he makes $46MM a year from his NBA contract alone, I’m gonna say he did it for the right reasons. 👏🏼 

 

https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2022/05/15/steph-curry-completes-college-degree-officially-graduates-from-davidson/