Upper Marlboro Native Plays Well in NBA Exhibition

Nolan Smith of Upper Marlboro scored a game-high 30 points on 14-of-23 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in an NBA exhibition game Thursday night in Provo, Utah.

“I was really pleased with my performance,” Smith told Patch. “It was a hard-fought game. It wasn’t a typical Pro-Am.”

An announced crowd of 11,124 packed into the Marriott Center to watch a group of NBA rookies compete against each other.

The event was organized by former BYU star Jimmer Fredette and featured more than a dozen of the NBA’s top rookies including Smith, former UConn star Kemba Walker, former Georgetown big man Vernon Macklin and former San Diego State star Kawhi Leonard.

Smith said he was familiar with most of the players he competed with and against during Thursday’s contest because their paths have crossed at various times during their college careers, the NBA combines, and workouts before the draft.

“You know everybody in the basketball world,” said Smith, the 2011 ACC Player of the Year.

Smith, who led Duke to the 2010 NCAA title and was a first round draft pick of the Portland Trailblazers in June, played on Team Fredette, which suffered a 140-126 loss to Team Leonard.

Fredette, a first-round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings, finished with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the loss.

Chris Singleton, who was selected by the Washington Wizards in the June draft, scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for Team Fredette, while Denver Nuggets draft pick Kenneth Faried finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds for Team Fredette.

“Jimmer shot the ball well,” Smith said. “Kenny Faried played a great game. Chris Singleton from Florida State was a huge factor.”

The NBA lockout has affected rookies more than veterans because the first-year players have yet to earn a professional paycheck. The league announced Friday that it has decided to postpone training camps indefinitely and has cancelled 43 preseason games.

However, Smith said he will continue to make good use of his time off by working out on the Duke campus in North Carolina.

“I have access to the gym 24 hours and I can just work on my craft,” said Smith, who noted that he stays in shape by lifting weights and running.

Smith wants to be prepared and ready to go once the lockout ends.

“I’ve got to stay ready,” he said. “I’m ready to play right now.”