Ok so in the Pro B you won´t see many imports during a season on one team simply because the league rule restricts it. So when a Pro B team gets a new import, my first thought is always, he better be good. Over the last years 2024 Pro B champion Dragons Rhondorf have had some really good imports like Kameron Taylor, Devin Goodman and for a second straight season Kelvin Omojola. Over the years they also have had good snipers as Nicolas Buchwald showcased his bomb effect from outside on numerous occasions and currently the team has Antonio Pilipovic back for a second season. Who could forget his tantalizing and lethal shooting during last years final against the RheinStars Cologne where he combined for 13/22 shooting. Well this season the Dragons Rhondorf may have that new sniper with Tim Smith Jr. (201-F-2000, college: N.Alabama, agency: 011 Sports). On a late August evening, I witnessed an exhibition game in the Dragon dome against Pro A team Rasta Vechta where this new American Tim Smith Jr. right away made an impact and big impression on me. Smith had a big role in the big 93.79 win as he stroked home 21 points. In the first half he was nailing three´s one by one and for a very small moment, I thought that Steph Curry was in the building in the body of Smith. Smith was playing his first game overseas and acted as if he had been there already for many years. He shot 44% from then parking lot last season in the NCAA and it´s obvious that he wants to continue to fire away at a high clip in his rookie season. His three pointer is beautiful to watch and he has that all business attitude in that he will fire away without any hesitation. “I’ve always been able to shoot it since I was little but like you said the last couple years I’ve really grown in my ability to hit shots consistently. I’d say that my shot feels really good almost every time I shoot it, but when I miss it’s 90% of the time short and in target. So that something I’m trying to work on, making sure I got enough power from the legs and also shooting with a wider base”, warned Tim Smith Jr.. The interesting thing is that he really has so much more to his game then just being a cold iced sniper. “. “He is super tall for a wing and can really shoot the ball. He plays above the rim, but just didn´t show it tonight. He is super talented”, warned Kelvin Omojola.

Tim Smith Jr. was who lists North Florida´s Chaz Lanier who hit his team for 40 points as his toughest foe in college was born on Oct.7, 2000 in Cleveland, Ohio. He began his basketball career at Lakewood high school. He then played 4 years of college ball at 3 schools. He began at California University of Pennsylvania (NCAA2) playing 29 games in his freshman year and averaged 8.9ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 88.9%. Unfortunately he couldn´t play a second season as Covid shut down the season in 2020-2021. “It was extremely challenging, all I’ve known was playing basketball so to not have it was hard to say the least. But it gave me time to focus on my body as I was battling with injuries around that time and the things I worked on during that year if stayed with me throughout the rest of my career so even though it was tough it was also a great learning experience”, stressed Tim Smith Jr.. There he scored in double figures 12 times including a 21 points game against Clarion and 18 points against Gannon. One game he won´t forget was the wild 106-102 win over Millersville where he logged 41 minutes scoring 19 points. Reading that gave me chills as I haven’t thought about it in a while but looking back on it, it was probably one of the most important games of my college career. Before that game I was really struggling and not having a good year. But after that game I regained confidence and eventually won the starting job that led me to having a pretty decent year”, remembered Tim Smith Jr.. He then played at Walsh (NCAA2 from 2021-2023 averaging 10.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 72.1% and stepped up his game in his second season averaging 16.1ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 87.1%. He won the GMAC title in 2022. That was his favorite moment at Walsh along with another one as well. “ I would have to say our win in the conference tournament over Lipscomb was my favorite. I hit a 3 with like 15 seconds left to take the lead, they come down hit a 3 to take the lead and then KJ one of my teammates comes down and it’s a floater from the 3 point line to win the game at the buzzer. It was absolutely insane”, commented Tim Smith Jr.. His game really took off in his second season under head coach Jeff Young. “ He definitely introduced me to the post game, that was something I had never done before then. He added another tool to my arsenal that I could now use at anytime”, expressed Tim Smith Jr.. In his 2 years at Walsh he played 52 games and scored in double figures in 39 games. He hit Northwood for 27 points and had 24 points a piece against IUP and Carlow. He then finished at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) averaging 9.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 79.2%. He proved there that he could make the jump from division 2 to division 1. “Coach Pujol and coach Smith just preached to me to be a pro everyday. With how you train to how you eat and take care of my body everything. They made me aware of all things that can help your career and how to approach everything”, added Tim Smith Jr. who will never forget the 1-1 battles with teammate Dallas Howell. “ It was always a battle between me and him, we were never on the same team in practice and always had to guard each other with no subs. There’d be days when he’d out play me and there’d be days when I outplayed him. We made each other better and I loved that battle we had all year long”, added Tim Smith Jr..

The 201cm forward who lists Jordan, Lebron, and Kobe on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season in Germany with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. It´s not easy for Americans at times to come overseas and make the adjustment with a new culture, but so far he loves the experience. “ I’ve been enjoying just seeing new things, I’ve been trying explore a little here and there when I have time. It’s definitely different than the states but not to different that it feels uncomfortable”, said Tim Smith Jr.. He did his home work before coming to Germany and knows how respected basketball is in Germany. “ I know that Germany has some of the most competitive and respected leagues in overseas basketball. I have a couple guys I played against in college, and actually one of my teammates from last year is playing in Pro A”, stated Tim Smith. Coming to Rhondorf was really a no brainer for him especially when you see and hear the word BBL in conversations.” I mainly came for 2 reasons, the experience being able to practice with Telekom Bonn I thought was invaluable. Just being able to see and feel what it’s like to play at that level and what I would need to do in order to make it there. The second was I need to develop my on ball skills, getting used to having the ball in my hands and making plays happen. I used to play point guard in high school but I’ve been primarily off the ball my entire college career”, stressed Tim Smith Jr.. The whole experience has simply been great for him as all have welcomed him with open arms. “ I really enjoy the guys on the team and the coaches. It’s a really fun environment and I think that as long as we stay together and lock in we can do great things. I’ve enjoyed being around Coach Dohrn who´s a very likable person and I enjoy his coaching style he is very detailed oriented, doesn’t let stuff slide. Makes sure we are always paying attention to the little stuff within the game and always holding guys accountable”, warned Tim Smith Jr..

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tim Smith Jr in Rhondorf, Germany 2024

So what kind of game can we await from the Ohio native who lists Jordan as his GOAT besides shooting out the lights? He compares his game to that of a point guard or of Jayson Tatum with less ball handling skills. He is tall and long and very important can score at all 3 levels which will add more offensive opportunities as Kelvin Omojola is also very keen at all 3 levels. He is a very versatile player, but he also has something else in common with Kelvin Omojola besides being able to score at all 3 levels. “Something that I haven’t been able to showcase much since I didn’t have that role in college but I’m a really good playmaker and like getting people involved. So other than being able to score at all 3 levels I’d say that’s probably it”, added Tim Smith Jr.. Coach Dohrn has stressed that he can play any position. Could he develop into that 2 way kind of player? “I would say I’m a decent defender I want to get to the point where I can comfortably defend guards. I’m a pretty decent shot blocker and I want to be a defensive player of the year type of person. I have the length and the instincts I think know it’s just making sure to have the motor and drive to just not let someone score”, stressed Tim Smith Jr.. In order that he will be 100% prepared this season he will continue to work extra hard on his ball handling, strength and defense. It will be interesting to see how this season´s import pans out. Currently he is tearing up the Pro B league averaging 21,6ppg, 5,4rpg, 2,7apg, 1,9spg and 1,4bpg. In the last 2 seasons the Dragons Rhondorf had nothing but joy with Devin Goodman and Avery Sullivan. The question will be can Tim Smith equal or top his predecessors seasons? In 4 years of college ball, he never made more than 5 three´s in a game. Without wanting to put too much pressure on him, I´m sure that this season he will produce many smiles on the fans in the Dragon Dome.