Just getting started, NC State guard Terquavion Smith already thriving on ACC stage
Twenty games into his collegiate career, Terquavion Smith has had six 20-point games and 15 games where he’s scored in double digits. The N.C. State freshman guard’s most recent 20-point performance was in the Wolfpack’s last game, a 77-63 win over Virginia at PNC Arena.
“Man, I don’t know that there’s another guy that I’ve ever coached that is as confident as this kid,” N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts said of Smith. “He scores the basketball, he loves to play.”
Smith also loves to win.
At Farmville Central High School, 80 miles east of Raleigh, Smith led the Jaguars to three state titles, going 76-2 his last three years of high school.
He is averaging 14.6 points per game for the Wolfpack, third among ACC freshmen behind Duke’s Paolo Banchero (17.9) and Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley (15.1). Even with his impressive production, N.C. State is 10-10 overall and 3-6 in the conference.
En route to the the Pack’s .500 record, the freshman has made it clear to his teammates that he isn’t used to or comfortable losing. Even though he rarely lost in high school, those who surrounded him during his prep career knew how he felt about the topic.
“If there’s a score being taken and there’s going to be a winner and a loser,” Smith’s high school coach Larry Williford told The News & Observer. “Terquavion Smith does not want to lose.”
A SHORT MEMORY
Smith shot 8-for-13 from the floor (4-of-7 from 3) on the way to his 20 points in the Pack’s win over Virginia Saturday. Just four days earlier, in a loss to Virginia Tech, he wasn’t nearly as efficient.
N.C. State trailed the Hokies by three with eight seconds remaining. Keatts drew up a play. Fans at PNC could only speculate who would get the last shot. There was no doubt, though, if Smith got his hands on the ball he wouldn’t hesitate to fire away.
It didn’t matter that he was 3-for-11 from behind the arc at that point. When the Greenville native received the ball at the top of the key, he took the big shot. It wasn’t the best attempt — Smith briefly lost the ball and had to regroup — but it was a good look.
He missed. And N.C. State fell to the Hokies.
“Honestly, I really wanted to get in the gym after the game,” Smith said “Missing that shot, it kind of hurt my pride a little bit. I was down after that because I have a lot of confidence, but, you know, the next opportunity I get on the court I just take it and make the best of it.”
ALWAYS A SCORER
Farmville is a small community. The Jaguars’ basketball program is one of the most respected in the state, especially in Eastern North Carolina.
Even before Smith put on a Farmville Central uniform, Rod Bridgers,who is part of the HoopState Network which highlights prep basketball in North Carolina, saw what his future held.
“First time I met him he came to my Elite 50 Middle School camp back in 2017, he was an eighth grader,” Bridgers said. “True story, he had 50 points in a running clock game. The only reason he didn’t win MVP of that camp was because he caught a cramp in the All-Star game, and he was going crazy then too. He’s always been a prolific scorer ever since I can remember.”
Even though he was about 120 pounds when he arrived at Farmville Central as a freshman, Williford recalled Smith being fearless. He went on to start every game of his high school career.
With teammates who would also go on to play in college (Justin Wright, who plays at North Carolina Central. Samage Teel and DyQuavis Wilkins, who both play for Winston-Salem State.) there was enough talent on their roster where they were able to push each other.
But Smith stood out. As a sophomore, he verbally committed to N.C. State.
“Shout out to my dad,” Smith said. “He always made me have a chip on my shoulder. He let me know there’s no need to be afraid of anybody. They have to put their shoes on just like we do.”
When Smith was 15, Farmville went up against The Patrick School out of New Jersey at the John Wall Holiday Invitational. The Patrick School was led by Jonathan Kuminga, now a member of the Golden State Warriors. Everyone in the building knew he was a future pro. Smith didn’t blink.
“I had like 30 in that game,” Smith said almost nonchalantly. “It was a good game.”
Whether it was Kuminga or a local player from down the street, Smith brought the same energy and determination to each game. He continues to do that now for N.C. State.
“It’s that 252 (Farmville’s area code) spirit in him,” Bridgers said. “He believes in himself if nobody in this world believes in him. It’s been unshakable.”
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE?
Smith’s 55 made 3s this season are the most by an ACC player.
With Wolfpack opponents often focused on slowing N.C. State leading scorer Dereon Seabron, it has provided many catch-and-shoot opportunities for Smith. With teams packing the lane to limit Seabron’s paint touches, Smith is often there to knock down shots from beyond the arc.
There’s more to his game, though.
“In high school he put it on the floor and got wherever he wanted,” Bridgers said. “You’re kind of starting to see it now with State. He is more and more comfortable, but he is a complete basketball player.”
Against Virginia, Smith muscled his way to the basket for an early layup. State fans haven’t seen a lot of that from the freshman star, but Williford and Bridgers believe it’s coming.
The No. 5 recruit in the state and No. 99 nationally, based on 247Sports.com’s composite rankings, Smith once scored 50 points in a high school game, and almost had a triple-double (33 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) in the 2021 NCHSAA 2A title game.
As a senior he was more of a facilitator for Farmville Central, but still averaged 25 points per game.
Keatts has been pleasantly surprised by Smith’s start to his college career.
“A lot of times kids come from high school to college, sometimes it takes them a little bit of time,” Keatts said. “But he’s still scoring high at this level. Probably a little better than I thought. I thought he would be a guy that would come in and be around 10 or 11 points per game. I think what makes him special is he doesn’t know he isn’t supposed to be good as a freshman.”
Williford, who knew Smith had potential to do what he’s doing at N.C. State, enjoys watching his former player as a fan now.
“He stays in attack mode and he thinks he’s going to make every shot,” Williford said. “He genuinely thinks he’s going to make every shot and you can’t coach that. When the game gets tight some people step up and some people step out. He always steps up late in games.”
That belief in himself is why Smith had the ball in his hands late against Virginia Tech. It’s why even after fumbling the ball, he still put his head down, drove to the 3-point line and pulled up. It’s why the next time State needs a big basket Smith will be calling for the ball. It doesn’t matter if he’s oh-fer on the night or perfect. He has a short memory, and he believes he’ll make the next shot.
“I feel like I’m here,” Smith said, following the 20th game of his collegiate career. “I feel like a veteran, honestly, the way I play.”
This story was originally published January 25, 2022 at 1:48 PM.
