Terence Smith earns McDonald's All-American nomination

By Staff
Scot Beard
Terence Smith has compiled an impressive resume during his career at Russellville.
He played in a state championship game as a sophomore. He earned an All-State honorable mention as a junior.
He saved his biggest accomplishment for his senior year.
Smith is a nominee for the 2010 McDonald's All-American Team, one of the most prestigious honors a high school basketball player can receive.
"I was shocked," Smith said. "It was a surprise. I wasn't expecting this."
Smith is competing with 1,500 of the nation's top high school players for 24 spots available for the Boys Team. The final team roster will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 11 on ESPNU.
He is one of nine players nominated from the state of Alabama.
"Considering the area we come from, you don't get as much respect in this state as a basketball player," said Michael Smith, Terence's father and coach. "It's huge. It goes back to all of the hard work he's put in over the summers.
As impressive as the nomination is, Smith was not the first member of his family to earn High School All-American honors. That accomplishment goes to his mother, Bridgette, who is an assistant coach on Russellville's varsity girls team.
She never told Terence about her accomplishment until he saw a plaque honoring her in her high school in Starkville, Miss.
"He said, 'You never told me,'" Bridgette said. "I told him 'You haven't beaten me yet."
She said she reminds him that even though he has come close he has yet to top some of her high school career high totals. While he might not have done it yet, Bridgette expects he will be a much better player in the long run than she was.
Smith was nominated by the McDonald's All-American Basketball Team Boys Selection Committee, which is composed of 32 basketball experts. The panel includes nationally renowned coaches and top high school sports journalists.
Smith is averaging 22 points per game and leads the Golden Tigers in free throw, field goal and three-point percentages.
"He works hard," Bridgette said. "I told him if he worked hard good things would come to him."
If he is chosen to participate in the game, Terence will join the ranks of some of the best basketball players in the history of United States basketball.
Current NBA players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were McDonald's All-Americans as was Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan.
The game will be played March 31 at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The game begins at 7:00 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN.
"He was very shocked," Bridgette said. "I was like 'Oh, gosh is this real?"
Other nominees from the state of Alabama include Pierre Crawford (Green County), Darren Daniel (Central-Phenix City), Van Green (Central Park Christian School), Keylon Harrell (Brewbaker Tech Magnet School), Neiko Hunter (Green County), Josh Langford (Lee-Huntsville), Derrick Martin (G.W. Carver) and Ralston Turner (Muscle Shoals).