Nationality American Role Basketball Player Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Height 1.98 m | Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg) Weight 104 kg Name Jimmy Smith Position Power forward | |
Born December 6, 1934
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ( 1934-12-06 ) High school Allderdice (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Homestead (Homestead, Pennsylvania) NBA draft 1958 / Round: 2 / Pick: 16th overall Died May 5, 2002, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States College Franciscan University of Steubenville (1954–1958) | ||
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James William Smith-Betsil (December 12, 1934 – May 5, 2002) was an American basketball player and political activist. He was an All-American college player at the College of Steubenville (now Franciscan University of Steubenville) and was a second-round pick in the 1958 NBA draft.
Smith was born James Betsil and played his first two years of high school basketball at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During the Summer before his junior year, he transferred to Homestead High School in Homestead, Pennsylvania. He made the move largely to increase his chances of playing college basketball, going so far as to move in with a local family (who became his legal guardians) and legally changing his name to James Smith. Following his high school career, Smith went to Steubenville for college, becoming perhaps the greatest player in school history. He was twice named an All-American, averaged over 20 rebounds per game and scored 2,048 points for his career.
Following the close of his college career, Smith was drafted in the second round of the 1958 NBA draft (15th pick overall) by the Boston Celtics. However, he was drafted into the United States Army as well. Smith was discharged in 1960 due to knee problems, injuries that ultimately derailed his professional basketball career. Smith ultimately became an activist for racial integration and later a public servant. He died on May 5, 2002 due to complications from leukemia.