March 31, 200422 yr http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/133857-3835-036.html IU recruit loses freshman eligibility By Terry Hutchens terry.hutchens@indystar.com March 31, 2004 Indiana University's top-rated incoming basketball recruiting class has carried an asterisk because of speculation Josh Smith might enter June's NBA draft. And while Smith still hasn't said he is NBA-bound, his actions Monday night spoke loudly. By participating in the dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American game in Oklahoma City Smith officially lost his freshman year of college eligibility. According to NCAA rules, "a student-athlete shall be denied the first year of intercollegiate athletics competition, if following completion of high school eligibility, and prior to the student-athlete's high school graduation, he participates in more than two all-star basketball contests." Participation in this case, according to the NCAA, includes the slam-dunk contest. Smith also competed in all-star events in Chicago and Knoxville, Tenn. Attempts to reach Smith, a 6-8 power forward from Powder Springs, Ga., on Tuesday night were unsuccessful. "This was his decision to make," IU coach Mike Davis said. "It's disappointing, but we had guys that we had lined up just in case. We had a backup plan. We're not in the situation where we were a couple of years ago where we were kind of out there stuck. "But this is his decision and I support the boy." With Smith out of the equation, the Hoosiers have two slots available in the class of 2004. Although April 14 is the first day athletes can sign national letters of intent, Davis wasted little time picking up an oral commitment from Julius Ashby, a 6-9 forward from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College. Ashby averaged a team-high 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks last season and shot 64.7 percent from the field. Ashby made his official visit to IU on March 2 when the Hoosiers faced Michigan.
March 31, 200422 yr All she had to do was throw it down. I'm 1000000x more impressed by Spud Webb. agree. that dunk was like a 6. maybe. all it was was a one handed throw down with a very weak attempt to cover one's eyes.
April 1, 200422 yr We'll still be fine... now I hope Josh Smith tears both of his ACLs :o Ramp is frosted.
April 1, 200422 yr Sebastian Telfair is better. As for Josh Smith, he might not get picked in Top 13. He's not LeBron "King"James. :mischief2
April 1, 200422 yr The other Smith (J.R.) is tearing it up in the Mickey D's Classic. He's headed to UNC.
April 1, 200422 yr i honestly think that josh smith didnt know that participating would kill his eligibility, but hes not gonna shed a tear over it. he was going pro for sure oh and talking UNC, im f***ing stoked about next year. watch out dookies
April 1, 200422 yr i think all those kids should get a real edumecation ... not right ... half fun wasting years in the bench. where Kwame Brown?
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