BIG EAST POSITIVE FOR RECRUITS

[Guest RED BIRD]

Tosa East's Smith picks Louisville

All-state guard was also on Badgers' wish list

By GARRY D. HOWARD

ghoward@journalsentinel.com

Posted: June 16, 2005

Prep Basketball

Photo/File

Wauwatosa East's Jerry Smith was named to the first-team all-state basketball team by both the Journal Sentinel and Associated Press last season.

All-State: Journal Sentinel teams

Wauwatosa East star guard Jerry Smith will attend the University of Louisville after he completes his senior year of high school. The 6-foot-2 Smith gave an oral commitment to Louisville coach Rick Pitino this afternoon.

The University of Wisconsin, Wake Forest, Connecticut and Tennessee were in the running, but Smith said the Louisville style of play under Pitino was a better fit for his game.

"I like Coach Pitino a lot," Smith said. "Coach has the best of both worlds, having coached on the NBA and the college level. He gives his players a lot of freedom to go up and down the court.

"He was excited to hear the news and said it was a great decision because it was great for both of us. He added that he can help me get to the next level.

"My mom (Kim) and dad (Jerry Sr.) want to go to all of my games, and Louisville is only five hours away. Plus we come home to play Marquette and also at DePaul, so that will be fun."

Smith averaged 19.3, 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season for Tosa East, which competes in the Greater Metro Conference. He was chosen to the first-team Journal Sentinel and Associated Press all-state basketball teams.

Because of the decision to go with Louisville, Smith's father was concerned about his relationship with Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.

"Coach Bo Ryan and I developed a very close and personal relationship," Smith Sr. said about Wisconsin. "It was a very difficult decision for our family to choose Louisville over Wisconsin. But Jerry wanted to go play in the Big East."

Smith Sr. said the family spent hours pondering the decision but it ultimately came down to the Big East.

"Jerry wanted to go play in a tough conference," Smith Sr. said. "It was a combination of location, style of play, comfort level with the coaching staff.

"It is a big relief. It has been a long process. We have been getting a lot of pressure from a lot of different people at the schools. Jerry is comfortable and he is happy.

"When Jerry called and notified Coach Pitino, he was in Seattle. Rick was very excited that his recruiting for a guard is done, because he feels that he and Jerry are a perfect match. Coach Pitino said that this is a perfect Father's Day gift for him and that he was going to fly back to Louisville.

"Coach said he was looking for a scoring guard and this signing was just what he wanted."

Kim Smith, contacted at her job, was very excited, as well.

"It has been fun and difficult," she said. "With any decision, you just hate to tell the other schools no. But on the other hand, we're very excited because this is a decision that has made Jerry very happy."

[Ricky the Bull]

Great pickup for the Cardinals.  Congrats!

We're definately seeing the dividends in the caliber of playing mentioning USF because of the new conference.

[lotsofbull99]

Big East Basketball rules!