Russ Smith’s No. 2 jersey will soon be making its way to the rafters of the KFC Yum! Center, more than likely retired from use by any future University of Louisville basketball players.
He was named a first-team All-American Monday by the Associated Press, the latest in a growing list of such honors, including the United States Basketball Writers Association, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News, among others.
Other first-team members are Doug McDermott, of Creighton, Sean Kilpatrick, of Cincinnati, Shabazz Napier, of UConn and Jabari Parker of Duke. If you’re counting that makes three American Athletic Conference members on the first team, the first time that happened since the Atlantic Coast Conference placed three on the first team in 2002.
But back to Russ …
UofL has specific criteria for retiring numbers, and only four players have had their numbers retired. There is one guideline, making it quite clear who can have their number retired, according to Kenny Klein, sports information director. Link
“To be eligible for retirement of a player’s number, the player must be, at minimum, a consensus All-America pick,” he told Card Game. Only four players in UofL basketball history have earned the honor. They are Pervis Ellison (42), Darrell Griffith (35), Charlie Tyra (8) and Wes Unseld (31).
That leaves room for a little ambiguity but not much, with his contributions to two Final Four teams and the 2013 national championship.
Amazing accomplishments for Mr. Smith. So glad he stuck around for his whole career.
Unbelievable that 60% of the first team All-Americans came from this patchwork conference.