California brothers headed to Mountain West
Jimmy Smith and Jarrel Smith are used to being roommates. Now the brothers from Birmingham High School in Encino, Calif., will share a room at the college level. The class of 2006 prospects are headed to the Mountain West Conference.
After visiting Colorado State last week, the Smiths both decided that they were ready to join Dale Layer's program. Jarrel said the relationships they were able to make with assistant coaches Myron Guillory and Bill Peterson helped make their decision easy.
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"It was pretty much because of the coaching staff," Jarrel said. "That was huge. Coach Guillory is real cool and coach Peterson is more of a guy that works out the players and stays at Colorado State instead of recruiting. He's worked with guys like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash."
While on the visit, Jimmy said the CSU team helped make them feel like they were at home.
"It was mainly because the players weren't acting weird. They are normal guys like the rest of us," Jimmy said. "They are cool, normal people. They said we should be able to fit in with their system. And their staff is great, too."
Colorado State's big lineup was also attractive. Having a guy like Jason Smith, a potential first round draft pick in 2007, is a huge draw, the Smiths said.
"He'll probably be a lottery pick, at least that is what they are projecting him to be, so you know the NBA scouts will be at the games to watch him," Jarrel said.
The Smiths - Jarrel, a 6-foot-7 wing, and Jimmy, a 6-foot-5 point guard - give the Rams more size at key positions.
"They see me as a big point guard," Jimmy said. "And they will probably use Jarrel as a three/two."
The brothers said playing together was also a huge draw to the Mountain West school. Together, they visited San Diego, UC-Santa Barbara and Long Beach State unofficially.