Diverse group showing interest in Smith

Kenyatta Smith never thought it would be an option to play in the Pac-10 but now that the La Canada (Calif.) Flintridge Prep center is hearing from some schools he's starting to rethink his recruitment and exactly where it's headed.

Smith, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound prospect, said Cal, UCLA and Stanford have expressed interest in him and that would be huge to play in the Pac-10 because it's been a lifelong dream.

"That's very interesting because when I was growing up I never really thought that was an option," Smith said.

"For some reason I thought I'd always go more to the Ivy League but now that they're showing interest I realize that I have a real opportunity to play at a high-major school in the Pac-10. It's really good to know."

Pepperdine is the first offer for Smith, a burly center who at 260 pounds is trying to sculpt his body and gain more muscle. He doesn't know much about Pepperdine yet but since it's close to home Smith is taking the program seriously and doing some research. Going to school in Malibu is certainly appealing.

"I've just seen a couple of their practices and they seem like a pretty strong team," Smith said. "It's a pretty small school but it has good balance."

Ivy League schools are also coming hard after Smith with Harvard, Princeton and Pennsylvania leading the way. Smith's mother loves the idea of him playing in the Ivy League and getting that quality education and it's something he's strongly considering as well.

"I like that they have opportunities beyond basketball and beyond college," Smith said. "It's just like free security after basketball. That's what really appeals to my mom. She's big on that."

But an interesting situation will arise if the Ivy League schools continue to pursue Smith and he starts to pick up Pac-10 offers. Even Smith said he doesn't know which way he would lean at this point and he'd definitely have to talk it over with his mom.

"I'd have to take some time to seriously think about it," Smith said. "I'd have to talk to my mom. She'd probably never talk to me again if I didn't."