Connecticut News, Connecticut Recruiting, Ray Mernagh

ROSCOE SMITH SHINES IN OAK HILL WIN; TALKS UCONN

Recent Husky verbal for 2010 Roscoe Smith likes win over Texas and talks about Jim Calhoun

by RAY MERNAGH

Roscoe Smith had just completed a fine night of basketball, finishing with 16 points on a mixed array of dunks, a mid-range runner or two and some three’s in Oak Hill’s 63-56 win over Columbia (GA) Saturday night in the Primetime Shootout at the Coliseum in Morgantown (WV) when I asked him about the Connecticut victory earlier in the day against #1 ranked Texas. Smith, an elite and athletic small forward (he’s listed at 6′8″ but might be an inch taller) who was named Co-MVP of the victory along with teammate Doron Lamb, smiled bright when I hit him with the question.

“Unfortunately I didn’t watch the game because I was getting ready for this game,” said Smith, “but I called coach Sellers (UConn assistant Patrick) and congratulated him on a great win over the #1 ranked team in the NCAA and that it was going to really represent a great win for the UConn Huskies down the road. They were very excited obviously.”

I asked Smith about Jim Calhoun and he replied that, “everyone says that coach Calhoun is okay he just has some high blood pressure because of the difficult losses they’ve had but he will be back, hopefully soon.”

Smith has been chided by some for his inconsistency in the past but he brought nothing but energy last night and quite frankly, he, Juwan Staten (Dayton) and Pe’Shon Howard (Maryland) were the reasons Oak Hill won the game. Smith defended a really good sophomore (Columbia’s 6′6″ Jarmal Reid, who we’ll tell you more about in the next day or so) in what was the most entertaining matchup/battle of the 16-hour day to watch.

Smith showed exactly why UConn coveted him so much — he has a chance to be really special at the Big East level with his motor, athleticism, size and skill set.

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