Wednesday, June 10, 1998

Carter, Smith play
the waiting game

Their basketball futures
remain up in the air

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

Former University of Hawaii basketball guards Anthony Carter and Alika Smith are taking separate but equally difficult roads toward a professional career.

Carter's future hinges on the shoulder he reinjured in an NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago last week and how quickly he can heal after surgery.

For Smith, it's a matter of how serious teams will take him. And how quickly he can bolster his stock between now and draft day on June 24.

Carter returned to his hometown of Atlanta Tuesday night after consultations with several NBA teams.

Dr. Tandy Freeman, the Dallas Mavericks' physician, has had the most contact with Carter.

"I've talked at length with (Freeman)," Carter's mentor, Llew Hayden, said from Atlanta.

"I asked the physician, 'If AC were your son, what would you do?'" said Hayden, head of Atlanta's I Have A Dream Foundation. "He said, 'Here are four people I would take him to operate on him.' The good news is, one is in Columbus, Ga., about 100 miles south of here. The other is in Birmingham (Ala.), about a 2-12-hour drive.

"I have some business in Birmingham (today) and AC can help me with that. We'll probably have the doctor take a look at him. Certainly, the sooner before the draft we get the surgery done, the better. And it makes more sense to have it done here instead of flying him back to Hawaii."

As for Smith, his motto is, "Have jump shot, will travel."

Smith doesn't care who or where, but he does know when. He wants to play professionally as soon as possible.

"My agent said he has some offers he's looking at," said Smith, who is helping out with the annual Rainbow Basketball Camp. "Maybe Greece. Maybe Japan. There was something in Korea for $60,000-$100,000.

"If I get a tryout somewhere, I'm going. I don't care where as long as I can keep shooting my jump shot and make some money."

Smith played in the recent Nike Classic in San Francisco. He'll return to the Bay Area in a few weeks for the San Francisco Pro-Am and several other invitational tournaments to keep his visibility with scouts.

"I'm probably the last one on the ladder with the slimmest of chances," Smith said. "But if someone's willing to take a chance on me, I'll give it all I've got.

"Right now, I'm just trying to stay in shape. I'm planning on going somewhere to play."