Welcome to Louisville Russel Smith

“Yes,  Sunday night at about 9 o’clock,” Russ Smith Sr. said. “We had dinner with Coach [Rick] Pitino, Coach [Ralph] Willard and Coach [Steve] Masiello.”

Smith Sr. said his son chose Louisville over offers from Wake Forest, Arizona, Houston and Baylor.

“He’s very happy and comfortable with the whole situation. He loved the atmosphere,” Smith Sr. said. “He loved the city. He toured the town, toured the new arena. He got a a feel for the players.”

A New York native himself, Pitino has had success with New York-area players before. His current roster includes former Rice guard Edgar Sosa, as well as St. Benedict’s big man Samardo Samuels.

“[Smith] loves that the coach plays three or four guards at a time. He loves the up-tempo style,” his father said.

While playing for Archbishop Molloy, Smith led the Catholic League in scoring last year. He then dropped 27 points in the Jordan Brand Regional Game back in April at Madison Square Garden and was named co-MVP of that event.

New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski says Smith will be a perfect fit for Louisville.

“It’s a great fit in terms of he has a tremendous appetite for the game and he’s going to a program where the coach is going to work him as hard as any coach in the country,” he said. “He loves the game. He’d rather play than breathe. He has a very high skill level. He’s just to got get stronger physically.

“He’s just got to reorient his game. He’s got to trust his teammates. He can really pass the ball, especially on penetration and kick-outs. He’s a scoring point who’s got to make his teammates better. He’s got to  bulk up his frame. He has very good quickness and a tremendous dribble routine. He has the ball on a string. He has an explosive first step. He can get to the basket and dunk on people.

“It’s a good fit. He’s a basketball junkie who’s going into a program run by a basketball junkie.” 

The 6-foot-8 Harris, a senior forward at Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West, visited Maryland this weekend and heads to Georgia Tech today (Sunday).

“The trip to Maryland went well,” said his father, Torrel. “We visited the business school and it was awesome, particularly the entrepreneur department. We meet with the head of admissions. We watched Maryland’s first game of the year [an 89-51 rout of Charleston Southern on Friday]. The fans are crazy and fun. My family had a great sit-down meeting with Gary Williams, who I value as a great coach because he always finds a way to beat Duke and North Carolina with less talent, without All-American players every year. He helps a lot of his players reach their potential.

“I don’t think Coach Williams gets enough credit for his success as others coaches around the country. I consider him a future Hall of Famer. I went with my sons, T.J. and Terry, and the coaches to watch the football game while Tobias, Tyler and the Maryland players went to the movies.

“I was impressed that even though the football game was a blowout [a 36-9 loss to Virginia Tech ]the Maryland fans were loyal to their team. We had a great meeting with the strength conditioning and strength coach. We just had a very good time at Maryland. It’s a great school, academics through basketball.”

Harris has now visited Syracuse, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville, West Virginia and Maryland.

After returning from Georgia Tech Tuesday, Tobias will decide.

“We’re going to break it down Tuesday to Thursday,” Torrel said. “It’s going to be tough. I don’t even know myself. I don’t know what school Tobias is going to pick.”

First off, Im glad to see him become a cardinal. second I didnt know he had offers from Arizona and Wake Forest! Maybe hes a late bloomer that we got first. He will fit well backing up Siva im sure. Now as far as Harris goes im not getting my hopes up but It would be nice to hear him declare to Uofl. But after reading what you posted it sounded like Maryland might have stole the show! Than again maybe not! I know rick and the Gang have been after him for a long while now. He reminds me alittle of Garcia but bigger.

You know... This year is going to be rough for Pitino... But he is here with us and prepared to stay... He is not going ANYWHERE... I think the man is focused and relentless now... Especially since Cal is at UK... I don't care what anyone says, Pitino is a detemined man... The only coach to take 3 different teams to the final four... We should not be worried one bit... He will retire with the cards and we WILL win at least 2 more championships before he's gone... I'm very happy with the backcourt for the next few years, EVEN if we don't get the top recruits... This man has a pedigree for developing players... That is what he does... That is what he is... And Russell Smith, will be a great player for us... Siva is there for the long haul, because is a midget... But he is going to be great... And Smith will see PLENTY of minutes and will start either his junior or senior season... Tobias Harris? I would certainly like to see him in a Cards uniform... But guess what... I don't care if he chooses another school, because we will be fine without him... In 2011 our frontcourt will be depleted, but we have the class coming in... I think what we really need are more of T-Will type players... Long athletic wings... We need some mid position players... All in all I'm not worried about the next five years one bit...