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2020-21 Men's Basketball Roster
K.J. Smith
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 170
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Calabasas, Calif.
- High School:
- IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
JUNIOR SEASON (2019-20)
Made his first start as a Tar Heel vs. Wofford due to the injury to Cole Anthony and had seven points and four assists in 26 minutes (had not scored in 22 minutes in the first nine games) • Had two assists against Oregon • Scored 21 points and had seven assists as a sophomore in 2018-19 • Scored a season-high five points last year against both Elon and UCLA • Played in 24 games at Pacific as a freshman in 2016-17 • Scored in double figures three times for Pacific with a career-high 17 at Cal State Fullerton.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018-19)
Saw his first action as a Tar Heel after sitting out the 2017-18 season as a transfer • Played in 22 games, scoring 21 points and collecting three rebounds and seven assists (against just three turnovers) • Scored a season-high five points against both Elon and UCLA.
REDSHIRT SEASON (2017-18)
Sat out the 2017-18 season as a transfer from the University of Pacific.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2016-17)
Transfer from the University of Pacific, where he played in 24 games as a freshman in 2016-17 • Averaged 13.0 minutes per game • Scored 76 points • Scored in double figures three times – a season-high 17 vs. Cal-State Fullerton, 15 vs. Pacific Union and 10 vs. Portland • Made eight three-pointers.
PREP
Finished his prep career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. • Played for coach Gary McKnight at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. • Also attended Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. • As a senior at Mater Dei, he was team captain and led his team to a 29-5 record and league title • Team won the SoCal state title.
PERSONAL
Born Kenneth Smith Jr. in Houston, Texas • Son of Kenny Smith and Dawn Reavis • Birthday is June 26 • His father, a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, played at Carolina from 1983-87, was named National Player of the Year by Basketball Times in 1987 and finished his career with 1,636 points and was Carolina’s all-time leader in assists and steals • Kenny Sr. is an award-winning TV analyst for Turner Sports • K.J. is wearing the No. 30 that his father wore as a Tar Heel and hangs in the rafters of the Smith Center • Favorite former Tar Heel (non-related division) is Kendall Marshall • Has three sisters – Kayla Brianna, an R&B singer, Monique Smith, an actress, and London Olivia – and a brother, Malloy Adrian • His stepmother is The Price is Right model Gwendolyn Osborne • Majoring in communication studies.
