The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program has long been known for its rich history of winning and family atmosphere. The family atmosphere, in particular, has been attributed to more commitments than any other individual intangible.
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On Monday, that atmosphere got a little stronger when K.J. Smith, son of Tar Heels legend Kenny “The Jet” Smith, received an admissions letter from the university notifying him that he would be able to attend the school in the fall.
Now, Smith is flying to North Carolina to enroll at UNC and fulfill his dream of playing basketball for the Tar Heels as a walk-on.
Smith left Pacific, where he spent just one season with the Tigers’ basketball program, to do just that.
“I always was a UNC fan growing up,” Smith told Inside Carolina’s Sherrell McMillan. “It was always in the back of my mind that UNC was the final destination where I wanted to end up. It was always a dream to say ‘I’m a Tar Heel.’ During the process, I got in contact with Roy (Williams) and we just built a Carolina relationship. I can’t even remember, I just kept thinking ‘What about Carolina?'” When I told Coach Roy I was accepted he told me ‘Welcome to the family.'”
Smith’s father was a four-year starter at North Carolina and a consensus first team All-American in 1987. He left UNC as a record-holder in multiple categories, including the program-leader in assists and steals.
Smith becomes the second player in as many weeks to transfer to UNC after beginning their career at another school. Smith, like Pitt graduate transfer Cameron Johnson, will be in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels when the season begins in November.
