Nolan Smith Finds Home in an Unlikely Place

Nolan Smith wasn't even recruited by Duke.

Nolan's father, Derek Smith was an all-time great at Louisville.  He went on to play professional ball with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he started alongside Johnny Dawkins of Duke.  Johnny Dawkins and Derek Smith had teamed up as best friends during their young professional careers.  However, when Derek Smith died on a cruise ship, while his son Nolan was only nine years old, Nolan was lacking guidance in his basketball career.  And for a while, it showed during his decision-making for college.   

Life had been tugging at him from all directions when it came to committing to a basketball program.

He could have played for Kansas State, where former coach Bob Huggins had counted on Michael Beasley to bring along his best friend as part of a package deal.  First-year coach Frank Martin even commented that Smith would have taken the starting job at point guard. 

He was also highly recruited by Rick Pitino and Louisville, where he would have teamed up with Edgar Sosa in a Louisville backcourt that could've used some help complimenting their great frontcourt.  Not to mention, his late father Derek Smith played at Louisville, where he still ranks among the top career scorers at Louisville.

So Nolan's decision was to play for the past, for his father at Louisville, or play for the present, with his best friend Beasley at Kansas State.

Nolan, now the "man of the house" after his father's untimely passing, went to his mother for guidance.  She couldn't help him directly, but she knew what was best for him.

Johnny Dawkins had still been a life-long friend of the Smith family, which his best friend Derek had fathered.  He was still involved with helping the family out; and while still keeping in touch with Nolan's mother, he decided he could provide a third option for Nolan.

He could play for Duke.

Johnny Dawkins acted like a father-figure to Nolan after the death of his father.  Nolan felt at home when he was with Dawkins.  So Nolan chose where he felt at home, at Duke.

"He's (Dawkins) known my dad, my family for a long time. Me choosing Duke, I felt coming here I'd have that father figure I didn't have growing up as a basketball player -- you know, going to the gym with your dad, shooting around with your pops -- that's the experience I always wanted. Now I'm here with Coach Dawkins, I feel that love from him. I'm in a great place."

While maintaining a friendship with Beasley and a childhood love for Louisville, Nolan Smith had found his home. 

While not yet starting, Nolan Smith has still been very productive as a freshman point guard at Duke.  He is averaging 17 minutes, 7 points, and 2 assists per game, including a career-high 21 points in only 18 minutes in the loss to Wake Forest just one week ago.