The man who has held down the fort in the middle the past two seasons for the Tigers did not select the conventional route to fame. Jabari “Big Nasty” Smith began his long, hard journey differently than many of his peers. It all began in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Booker T. Washington High School.
During his prep years, Jabari displayed the ability to play basketball on the next level. Despite possessing the athletic ability, Smith spent little time focusing on academics.
“In high school, I really didn’t challenge myself in the classroom,” said Smith. “All I knew back then was that I was extremely long, I was pretty good and I really loved the game of basketball. But school … I wasn’t even thinking about school for the most part.”
Smith went on to finish his prep career in sizzling fashion. He averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and shot over 60 percent from the field. After his senior campaign, Smith knew he wanted to play big-time college basketball. Despite his grades, Jabari refused to settle for a Division II scholarship. With limited options he decided to attend Atlanta Metropolitan Junior College.
When Jabari arrived at Metropolitan, the life that he had previously known soon came to pass. He met his met his new coach, Robert Pritchett.
“Coach Pritchett was like a father to me,” said Smith. “He was the first male that made me push myself to the limit … as a matter of fact, he pushed me past the limit. At that stage in my life, I needed somebody to help me help myself.”
With Coach Pritchett’s help Jabari developed into one of the best big men in Junior College. The first year at Metropolitan, Smith averaged a modest 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. The following season, Smith polished up his skills, pouring in 18 points per contest and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds per game.
Despite having two stellar seasons in Atlanta, Jabari would face controversy once again. This time he was a couple of credits short of graduating. He would have to sit out the next season to work on getting himself eligible to transfer.
“That was one of the hardest times in my life,” Jabari said. “I really had to lean and depend on my mom. She kept me up-beat and told everything was going to work out for the best.”
One day, Jabari was sitting around in his dorm room and suddenly the phone rang. It was current LSU assistant coach Butch Pierre. When Jabari answered the phone, Pierre said, “What’s happening, Baby?” The rest, as we know it, is history.
After Jabari discovered Pierre was an LSU assistant coach, he was on his way.
“Coach Pierre recruited me in high school,” said Smith. “I always had major respect for Coach Pierre. Plus, my mom really liked him, so really that was all that mattered anyway.”
Upon arriving in Baton Rouge, Smith was welcomed to a different lifestyle. The exotic foods, friendly people and unusual language presented an entirely different culture than Smith was accustomed.
“Man, this place isn’t anything like Atlanta,” said Smith. “People down here, especially the ‘super fans’ really care about you. The way they treat my family and friends is unbelievable.”
Coach Pierre had a premonition of what kind of talent he had in Jabari Smith.
“Jabari was a player that I really liked. He had size, height and could shoot the basketball,” said Pierre. Jabari did not prove him wrong. Last season the 6’11” center averaged a solid 14 points and 10 rebounds per game earning him 2nd team All-SEC honors.
Despite solid individual efforts, Smith was hungrier for more victories. He improved upon every aspect of his game during the off-season.
“Once he got into the system of practicing, conditioning and weightlifting it helped him get better,” said Coach Pierre. “He’s come a long way in terms of being coachable and (showing) leadership.”
As the lone senior on this year’s 24-4 team, Smith is putting it all together. His numbers are solid. He is averaging 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block per contest. Smith also shooting a blistering 57 percent from the field and surprisingly, 36 percent from behind the arc.
The man that they call “Big Nasty” is far from vulgar as his alias suggests. When asked who were his favorite people in the entire world, he replied, “The kids. I can be sitting down somewhere about a 100 feet away from a little baby,” said Smith. “If they wink, smile, point; if they just look at me, I have “got” to go mess with them. It’s something about those little fellows that I truly love.”
Then there’s the smile for which “Big Nasty” will forever be remembered; running up and down the court just a laughing; signing hundreds of autographs gleaming with a smile. Jabari Smith has etched his way in the heart of Tiger fans forever. “He loves to be around people and people love to be around him,” said Coach Pierre.
“Big Nasty” won’t accept all of the credit for his positive demeanor. Growing up in a single-parent household was difficult at times without a father. “See my momma … she made me into the man you see,” said Smith. “That’s mom and pops all in one and she did it the whole time by herself. I owe her the world and if my dreams come true, I’ll give it to her before it’s all over with.”
Sending No. 52 off with a Senior Day farewell never could be enough to repay “Big Nasty” for helping rebuild a fallen program. The numbers and stats do not display the impact that he has had on the LSU program. In whatever endeavors Jabari decides to engage in the future, people in Tiger Town will forever hold a place in their hearts for “Big Nasty-No. 52.”
THE SKINNY ON “BIG NASTY”
- Best memory of LSU Basketball: Super fans
- Favorite thing about LSU: People
- Favorite movie: Money Talks
- Hobbies after dark: Video games/Listening to music
- “If I were a millionaire: “I like to give, so I’d probably be broke.”
- Favorite musician: Master P
- Most important person: Mother
- Personal principals: Respect your elders and “try” to respect your peers
- 10 years for now: In Jamaica, with my family; enjoying life … smiling at the world