University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Alumni Feature - Andre Smith
11.16.2010 | Men's Basketball
Each week www.uncabulldogs.com will do a feature on a former Bulldog student-athlete or coach and find out what they're doing since they left Asheville. This week's feature is on former men's basketball player - Andre Smith.
MIAMI, FL. - Former UNC Asheville basketball star Andre Smith has travelled the world in continuing his career. But wherever he is, Andre always goes to www.uncabulldogs to see how the Bulldogs are doing.
Smith graduated in 2003 after leading the Bulldogs to a Big South Tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. That Asheville team became the first ever program to go to a NCAA Tournament since the school went Division I. Smith was the MVP of the Big South Tournament and then scored 28 points in the Bulldogs' 92-84 overtime win over Texas Southern in the NCAA Opening Round. The Dogs were the first team in Big South history to ever post a NCAA Tournament victory. He scored 22 points against Final Four bound Texas in the first round of the tournament and gave the mighty Longhorns a scare before the Bulldogs dream ended.
Smith wanted to continue playing and thus began an amazing odyssey. He played briefly for the Asheville Altitude in the NBA's D League after graduating before playing in the American Basketball Association for three seasons. The Jamaican native then played for teams in Lithuania, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and Syria. He is also a member of the Jamaican National Team that has traveled extensively throughout South America.
"My passport has a lot of stamps on it," joked Smith after a workout in Miami recently. "It's been exciting to see a lot of the world but it also makes you appreciate home, too."
Andre has played in some interesting and perhaps we might think dangerous places in the world.
"One of the things I've learned is that there might be a conflict in a country but most of the time it's in a small place and doesn't bother the rest of the country," added Smith. "Life goes on normally everywhere else."
One of the big highlights of Smith's adventures came in Mexico when he got to play against former Bulldog Josh Pittman. Pittman played for the Bulldogs from 1994-98 and was the Big South Player of the Year twice. He was inducted into the UNC Asheville and Big South Hall of Fame this past year. Josh is a few years older Andre but he's still got "game."
"I had heard so much about Josh and had met him a couple of times but it were a real thrill to play against him," admitted Smith. "He's still a darn good player and was pretty tough to stop. We played twice and each of got a win."
No matter where Smith is in the world, he thinks of his time at UNC Asheville fondly.
"I can't believe it's been seven years since I've graduated and stopped playing for the Bulldogs," said Smith."I had such a great time at UNC Asheville and met some lifetime friends there.
"No matter where I am, I always get to a computer to see how the Bulldogs are going," added Smith. "I'm always a fan no matter where I am."
Note - If you know of a former Bulldog student-athlete who you would like to see profiled, contact Mike Gore at mgore@unca.edu or call 828-251-6923.