Today, all of Ball State University's community will have its eyes on Theron Smith. The former men's basketball player accomplished some amazing feats over the last four years while wearing the red-and-white jersey, and by midnight he will be preparing to transfer that collegiate success into a professional career with the National Basketball Association.
Not many people can say they knew about Smith before he stepped into Worthen Arena his freshman season. But head coach Tim Buckley, who was the one to recruit him out of Auburndale High School in Florida, says Smith had some qualities that could transpire into something special.
"Before we signed him (as a recruit), we felt he was a player who could be impactual at Ball State," Buckley said. "We always felt he had NBA potential because of his size, athletic ability, skill level and lastly but probably most importantly, his knowledge of game."
From his first game as a Cardinal to the final game he played earlier in the 2002-2003 season, Smith has indeed been that impactual player. In 96 career games, he came off the bench in only eight of them, all during his freshman year.
He was recognized that year as the Mid-American Conference's Freshman of the Year, averaging more than 12 points per game as well as nearly eight rebounds. That season, Ball State won its second MAC championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament against UCLA. Then, he was coached by Ball State legend Ray McCallum.
Smith's sophomore season marked the beginning of the head coaching career for Buckley. That season, Smith scored a career-high 40 points against Texas Tech, but it was only a glimpse into what would be done during the 2001-2002 season.
As a junior, Smith introduced himself to the NBA, exploiting the new-found media exposure following the team's success at the Maui Invitational, which featured national powerhouses Kansas, UCLA and the then-defending champions Duke. Beating Kansas, UCLA and falling short of taking out Duke sent the media into a season-long obsession with the Cinderella team, led by Smith and his ability to compile double-double performances. He was a serious contender for national player-of-the-year honors.
Ball State was in and out of national polls, and the extra media attention prompted Smith to pursue a job in the NBA. Following the season, Smith declared himself eligible for the league, but never acquired an agent because he wanted to keep open the possibility of returning to college. He was hurt in a workout with the Toronto Raptors and the injury carried into the past season, cutting his senior year short after only three games.
Smith said earlier during the year he would return to play for the upcoming season, but changed his mind and decided to go full force into the draft. Hours before the likely biggest time in Smith's life, Buckley said he was not sure how he would do in the draft.
"With the NBA people I spoke to, his chances range from being picked up as a free agent to being drafted mid to late in the second round," Buckley said.
While there was no certainty of what would become of Smith's future, Buckley is confident that he will excel in the NBA, pending he adapts well.
"I think he'll have a chance to play," he said. "His success will be dependent upon him adapting to being a small forward and right now he's more of a power forward. He has to evolve into being a smaller type of player. If he gets the opportunity, I think he can have a very good career in the NBA."
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