Recruiting heats up for Mullins basketball prodigy Eric Smith

Mullins Sophomore point guard Eric Smith is focused. You can see it in eyes before he pulls up and nails a three pointer over an opponent's stretched out hand. You can see it in his eyes when he cradles the basketball through the lane absorbing multiple swipes and finishing with a layup. It’s written on his face when he shields determined defenders away from basketball when the pressure is on. He’ll tell you so himself before he walks out to midcourt awaiting tip-off. “By me playing varsity since seventh grade, I am used to all the pressures that come with playing varsity basketball. Nothing is new to me. In tight situations, I’m not nervous because I’ve been in plenty of tight situations throughout my career,” Smith said.

Smith has to be focused, because the goals he’s reaching for are shared by a number of individuals, and it’s a requirement when you’re a competitor. So when you seem him attending classes everyday, head in the books, or on the gym floor every afternoon shooting hundreds of jumpshots, and running hours of drills, be sure that he’s focused every step of the way.

Basketball is similar to boxing in one aspect.... you have to fight your way to the top. That’s why for the past four years after basketball season, Smith has been traveling the country taking on the toughest competition the nation has to offer in AAU basketball, and college programs are taking notice of the kid that 's standing out among the top of the 2010 recruiting class. “Things have been going pretty good since the season ended. We really didn't take too much time off,” Smith said. After a 24-1 season, the experiences just keep getting better for the star. “People around Mullins are already excited about next season! I'm very proud of my team! Even though we didn't go all the way, we did big things last year. It's not easy to have a perfect regular season record of 21-0.”

 Both USC new head coach Darrin Horn and Clemson coach Oliver Purnell paid a visit to Smith at Mullins High School this past Tuesday. The two coaches got a good look at Smith while he displayed his shooting and ball handling skills. "We want to start in-state, we want the best players in the state that fit our needs to come to South Carolina," the Gamecock coach said, adding, that it doesn't mean that they'd get them all, but it's a priority for the program. Horn was part of the coaching staff at Marquette that recruited NBA star Dwayne Wade before coaching at his alma mater Western Kentucky and leading to the third round of the 2008 NCAA tounament.

The process hasn’t been nerve-wracking for the kid either. “The recruiting process is very exciting for me. I'm still a kid. But it feels good to know that I have colleges interested in me. The process is pretty cool right now but I know its going to get crazy over the next two years. But I think I'm handling it pretty well, he said.

Clemson broke out the gates early on the recruiting trail offering the prospect a scholarship during his Freshman year. Horn and USC made their scholarship offer this past week after the visit. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma have made visits to the school as well. Smith has even added Auburn University to the list of schools showing major interest. Other interested schools at this point include Wake, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, College of Charleston, Stanford, LSU, St. Joseph's, Alabama, and Ga. Tech.

Smith’s father Steve said the young guard is having a very good start in AAU competition, leading his Geogia Elite squad in scoring with 24 points and seven assists per game. “I feel like I'm playing very well compared to last year. I am much more competitive,” he said. Rivals.com called Smith’s performance in the Boo Williams Invitational in Hampton, VA in April one of the strongest in the entire event. Smith brought his team back from a 23 point deficit, winning the game off the strength of his 34 points and six made three pointers. Two weeks ago, Smith participated in the Lebron James Shooting Stars tournament in Akron, OH, and will soon play in the Bob Gibbons tournament of champions. He has an invitation to the Nike Hoop Jamboree which features the top underclassmen in the country in St. Louis, MO held in June.

Smith knows the list could continue to grow during the rest of his time in high school, and doesn’t know when we would plan to commit to a school. “It really depends on how things turn out for me this summer and how many schools notice me this summer. I would like to commit this fall but I can't really say when i'm going to commit,” he said. However, Smith acknowledges the decision could get tougher. “Picking what school I want to attend will most likely be the most important decision I will make in my life.” The one relief is that two major programs in-state want him to be part of their team in the future, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to go to school in his home state. “I'm going to continue working hard and stay humble and do everything in my power so that I will be ready for the next level when the time comes,” Smith said. It’s good that two schools have already made it know that they’ll be ready for him when takes that next step.