March 5, 2007
ATLANTA – Junior forward Jeremis Smith, whose down-and-dirty work inside on defense and on the boards during Georgia Tech’s last month of the season has been one of the keys to the Jackets’ hot streak, was named a co-captain for the Yellow Jackets following Sunday’s win over Boston College.
Mario West, the team’s lone senior, had been Tech’s only captain throughout the regular season.
Smith, a 6-8 native of Fort Worth, Texas, has overcome a dislocated kneecap as a freshman to become one of the best rebounders and interior defenders in the ACC, and has helped set the tone for Tech’s stretch run this year by averaging 7.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals over the Jackets’ last nine games. He averages 8.4 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds for the season, ranks in the ACC’s top 10 in steals, and has hit 59.2 percent of his field goal tries.
“You may look as Jeremis’ rebounding numbers and not be impressed, but when I watch tape, he does an unbelievable job of clearing traffic so other guys can get uncontested rebounds,” said head coach Paul Hewitt. “For what he has done, and Mario West has done, that’s how we need to play.”
Tech is 20-10 overall, and has the No. 6 seed in this week’s ACC Tournament. The Yellow Jackets will play Wake Forest Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. in first-round action.
