DURHAM — With plenty of Duke fans on hand, Blue Devils guard Nolan Smith put on quite a show Tuesday night at the S.J.G. Greater NC ProAm at N.C. Central.
Smith poured in 41 points as Team Dreamworks rolled to a 76-60 win over Team McGladrey.
Smith scored every way imaginable as ProAm announcer Bill Murphy said, "Nolan Smith is bringing out the entire repertoire tonight," after one of Smith's baskets that wowed the crowd.
His Duke teammate Mason Plumlee also had a good game, adding 15 points while squaring off against former UNC player and current Cleveland Cavalier Jawad Williams, who scored 24.
Even Williams, the former Tar Heel, had compliments for the two Blue Devils.
"Nolan is very talented and continues to get better. Every game I've seen him he's become a better player. I think this year he could have a special year," Williams said. "And Plumlee is very skilled for a guy with his height. He could be a Josh McRoberts-type player."
Williams said he didn't mind complimenting Duke players. "Because Carolina's going to be back on top. Everybody knows that," he smiled.
Team McGladrey usually has a group of N.C. State players, but most of the regular roster did not show.
"They've been the talk of the league, so I was looking forward to playing them," Plumlee said. "But people don't realize that even our summer schedule can be crazy."
The youngest Plumlee, Marshall, who has a year left in high school and has already committed to Duke, also played on Team Dreamworks.
"Getting to face this kind of competition is really great for him," Mason Plumlee said.
Moton building: N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton, who played at Enloe and then N.C. Central, is using some of his old Raleigh ties to build his program in Durham.
Landon Clement, who starred at Sanderson when Moton was the coach there, transferred to N.C. Central and is eligible to play this year. David Best, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, also played for Moton at Sanderson and played at Cape Fear Community College before becoming an Eagle. And freshman guard Poobie Chapman joins NCCU this year after playing at Enloe.
Clement played two years at UNC Greensboro, "clashed" with the coach and jumped at the chance to play for Moton.
"He was my coach at West Millbrook Middle School, Sanderson, and he's always been there for me," Clement said. "I always said if he got a head coaching job in college I'd want to play for him."
Moton's relationship with Chapman goes back to before Poobie was even born.
"Poobie's dad, Emanuel Sr., played at St. Aug's and in the Chavis League. He was my idol as a kid," Moton said. "I still think he's the best passer and ballhandler I've ever seen, and Poobie is the spitting image of him."
Chapman and Clement are playing together on Team 212.


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