Nov. 29, 2005

Anthony's buddy one mellow friend

Nov. 29, 2005

By Marc J. Spears Denver Post NBA Beat Reporter, 11-27-05

When Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony needs some advice, to laugh or even just catch up on old times in Baltimore, he often makes a phone call to Sterling.

It is there his longtime friend, Tyler Smith, stars on the hardwood for Northeastern Junior College.

"If something is going on, he calls me," said Smith, 21. "Everything that happens, we always talk about it together."

Anthony and Smith met in Baltimore while playing recreation basketball when both were 8 years old; they have been close since. When Anthony was selected by the Nuggets with the third pick in the 2003 draft after his freshman season at Syracuse, Smith went to Chicago to play for DePaul.

"That's like my brother. We grew up playing together," Anthony said.

After playing sparingly, not giving his all in class and the departure of his coach, Smith dropped out after his freshman year. He went home to Baltimore before accepting an invitation from Anthony last year to move in with him at his Lakewood estate.

Smith leads the Plainsmen in scoring

With Anthony dealing with off-the-court drama and injuries and the Nuggets struggling early last season, Smith's ear and advice were helpful.

"I told him to focus on what got him to the NBA," Smith said. "He was looking at the big picture instead of breaking it down. You've got to start with small goals instead of big ones."

Said Anthony: "It was a sad story on both ends. He was sitting out for a year. He watched what I was going through. It was kind of a sad story. But now I'm happy and he's happy."

Smith watched a lot of Nuggets and college basketball during his layoff. He noticed people he had played well against having success on the college court and in the NBA. He started having some regrets about leaving DePaul, realizing he had let his ego get the best of him. He gained confidence when Anthony told him he fared well when playing pickup ball against Nuggets players in the offseason.

"Watching me play with the Nuggets, watching other people play really helped him out," Anthony said.

Smith got back on the hardwood by making the trek to Sterling to play for the Plainsmen. With Smith leading the way, Northeastern has a 9-1 record. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard is averaging a team-best 20.2 points and shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point range. He has a season high of 35 points and credits his team for his success.

Smith said he is being recruited by Colorado, Colorado State, Gonzaga, Illinois, Arizona State and UNLV. He plans on making a decision at season's end, and says his grades are good enough that transferring won't be a problem.

My whole mind frame has changed," Smith said. "I don't take anything for granted."

NBA scouts have their eyes on Denver center Yemi Nicholson, Colorado State forward Jason Smith and Colorado guard Richard Roby.

Though he may be biased, Anthony said he believes the state's best college basketball player is the Baltimore kid in Sterling.

"He can get there," Anthony said about Smith making it to the NBA one day. "The thing that I'm most impressed with is he hasn't played in like a year and a half and he comes back and is doing what he is doing."