JR Smith cleared by NCAA to play golf at North Carolina A&T

Former NBA champion J.R. Smith has been cleared by the NCAA to play collegiate golf at North Carolina A&T, per The Undefeated. He enrolled in school on Aug. 11 after a 16-year professional basketball career. He holds four years of NCAA eligibility.

“It was probably one of the most exciting feelings I’ve had in a while,” Smith said in a statement. “I really didn’t know how it was going to go… but to be able to actually call myself a student-athlete is a great feeling.”

The 35-year-old former sixth man of the year has a passion for golf, he told the PGA Tour’s Helen Ross.

J.R. Smith’s decision to play golf

J.R. Smith was drafted straight to the NBA coming from St. Benedict’s Preparatory School and did not play any years in college before declaring as a professional athlete.

“Golf is one of those games that has you feeling really high and or can bring you down to your knees and humble you,” Smith said. “And to have that feeling and knowing that all of the game’s pretty much on my own hands and I don’t have to worry about teammates to pass the ball and receiving passes and playing defense so, I can play my game and just have fun.”

Smith’s decision to enter college came from conversations with another retired NBA champion in Ray Allen. During a trip to the Dominican Republic together, Smith spoke with Allen about his post-NBA life.

“He was talking about some of the things he was doing by going back to school, challenging yourself and stuff for us athletes,” Smith said.

Another discussion about going to college was shared with NBA star Chris Paul. Paul played college basketball for Wake Forest but did not graduate. He is currently working on finishing his college degree in communications while playing for the Phoenix Suns.

Smith announced his enrollment and plans to earn his degree in liberal studies at North Carolina A&T State University. While he has not yet made the team officially, the school is very excited to have him join their institution.

“It’s a big deal for A&T, it’s a big deal for him,” said Richard Watkins, the North Carolina A&T golf coach. “It’s not very often that somebody in his position really has an opportunity to have a thought, a dream, an idea, and to be able to go ahead and move in that direction.”