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Going 1:1 with Quadree Smith

2013-2014-QSmith-1

The Friars recently received good news on the recruiting front when 6’8 power forward Quadree Smith from IMG Academy committend to PC. Smith provides much-needed size and depth to a frontcourt that was hurt by the transfer of center Paschal Chukwu.

Friarbasketball.com’s Craig Leighton was  able to catch up with Smith and get his insights on the PC  program and why he decided to become a Friar.

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Leighton: How relieved were you to get this whole recruiting process over with? I know it’s been quite a journey over the past couple of years.

Smith: I am very relieved. It has been a long process. In high school I went from Archbishop Carrol to Paul VI to Potomac. In the end I had interest from over 40 colleges, but it was a very long process.

Leighton: What were the factors that made you decide on Providence College?

Smith: Playing in the Big East was one of them. You can’t get any better than that. It is one of the best conferences in the country to play in. You have the people that are in Providence. You have Coach Cooley who is one of the best coaches in the country. In addition, he has one of the best coaching staffs.

I got along well with all the players when I went on my visit there. I knew most of them already when I went there anyways.

It’s a small college. I think there are about four thousand kids that go there. When I step on campus I will be able to get to know everyone.

Leighton: That is huge. Some kids want to go to the 50,000 student school with the big time football program.

Smith: I feel that if you go to a big time football school you are not going to be able to know everyone that goes there. At PC I hope to be able to interact with everyone that goes there.

Leighton: Were there any specific things that impressed you about Cooley and his coaching staff?

Smith: Part of it was their reputation. Coach Cooley is a real down to earth guy.

Leighton: I assume Ben Bentil was there working out with the team when you were there. You and Ben in the same frontcourt could be quite formidable.

Smith: I am definitely looking forward to playing alongside Ben.  Before I went to prep school I played with Team Takeover and he played with We Are 1 and we played against each other so many times in the summer. He knows how I play. I know how he plays. He’s gotten a lot better since the last time I’d seen him; the same with me. I have gotten a lot better since the last time Ben had seen me. It is just going to be great playing on the same team as Ben.

Leightom: How is it going to be playing with the best point guard in the country in Kris Dunn?

Smith: Playing with the best point guard in the country, you can’t get better than that.  I am going to go out and give him every thing I have, set screens for him, get him going.

Leighton: Growing up were you a Georgetown fan, or was there any particular college you were rooting for?

Smith: Not really, growing up in the DMV there were really three schools very close by with UVA, Georgetown, and Maryland. Those are the three colleges I was always hearing about.

Leighton: Well at least one of those colleges you will be playing twice a year so that should be fun for you.

Smith:  Most definitely, the point guard on my AAU team, Tre Campbell, plays for Georgetown. One of my other teammates, Markus Derrickson, is going to Georgetown as well.

Leighton: Was one of the reasons for going to IMG Academy because that was a place where you felt that they would be able to get you in better shape?

Smith: Yes. I wanted to go to prep school to get in better shape, get in better physical condition. IMG is one of the best prep schools in the country. They have pro training there and everything. I wanted to go there, to  be a part of that. While I was down there I was able to work out with the pros.

Leighton: Do you have any specific goals for next season?

Smith: I want to be the best I can be — to do everything I can to be Big East Champs, to make it to the Tournament, and to win a national championship before I leave Providence.

Leighton: For anyone that hasn’t seen you play how would you describe your game?

Smith: I would describe it as versatile. I am a good shooter, I have soft hands and I can dribble a little bit. I am told I have quick feet on defense.

Leighton: Who is your favorite player right now in the NBA?

Smith: I think it would be DeMarcus Cousins and ad Draymond Green.

Leighton: Anything else that you want to say to Friar fans?

Smith: Just that I can’t wait to get up there and get started.

Quadree Smith will be getting started right away as he will be at Providence for the second summer session starting right after the Fourth of July.

2 Comments

  1. Patricia Anne Howes

    June 22, 2015 at 1:43 am

    Fantastic!!

  2. Joe Murphy

    June 22, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    Haven had a wide load like that in years. Dunn will help him average 10 ppg. Easily

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