Josh Smith not playing in tomorrow's Hall of Fame game

Josh Smith won't play tomorrow in Hall of Fame game

Posted by Sandy Ringer
The Seattle Times
January 15, 2010 at 3:49 PM

Josh Smith will not be in the lineup tomorrow when Kentwood plays Kinston High School (N.C.) in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Smith, a 6-foot-10 senior who has signed with UCLA, returned to action last Tuesday after suffering a partially torn patellar tendon earlier in the season. He scored 10 points in limited action as the Conquerors beat Tahoma.

According to Jo Anne Daughtry, Kentwood athletic director, Smith collided with a Tahoma player during Tuesday's game and was held out of last night's game against Kent-Meridian for precautionary purposes. She said it was the family's decision for him not to play tomorrow, not wanting to risk further injury in a non-conference contest.

The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. (2 p.m. EST). You can read more about the Hoophall Classic, which actually started today, and find results of games throughout the weekend here.

Daughtry said Smith is expected to see some action next Tuesday as the Conquerors return to SPSL play against Auburn Riverside.

This is the second national event Smith has had to sit out. He did not play in the T-Mobile Invitational last month, and Kentwood went 0-2. Ironically, he is the primary reason Kentwood was invoted to play in both the T-Mobile and Hall of Fame events.

Barring further injury, it seems likley Smith will play in Kentwood's final "showcase" game Feb. 2 against Jefferson (Portland, OR), which will be televised on ESPN2.