Former Houston Rockets forward Greg Smith will be inducted into the Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame on September 26, honoring a basketball journey that stretches from solitary shooting drills at Sereno Village to the NBA, according to reporting from The Vacaville Reporter. Smith carved out a five-year NBA career and a four-year stint overseas after going undrafted in 2011.
From Sereno Village Courts to NBA Hardwoods
Growing up in Vallejo, a 10-year-old Smith spent countless hours at Sereno Village pretending to play against league greats like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal. That childhood imagination materialized in 2012 when the 6-foot-10 forward signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets. Smith recalled his early days in the league watching his childhood idols from the bench as a rookie.
“Being able to play against my favorite players was the greatest thing ever,” Smith said. “My first year, I didn’t play a lot, so I was like a fan on the sideline just watching my favorite players.”
High School Development and College Success
Smith’s competitive basketball path began at Jesse Bethel High School, where coach Dwayne Jones offered him a spot on the junior varsity squad for his freshman season. Rather than pushing for an uncertain varsity spot, Smith took the JV route to expand his skill set. He later transferred to Edison High in Fresno for his sophomore and junior years to play for a program with a strong history of college development under the guidance of his uncle, whom he considered a father figure.
During his junior year at Edison, Smith averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks per game. He then moved to Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix for his senior season, earning All-Arizona State honors and a McDonald’s All-America nomination after averaging 26 points, 14.4 rebounds, six blocks, four assists, and three steals per game.
Smith returned to Fresno for his collegiate career, earning Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors at Fresno State University for the 2009-10 season. After his sophomore year, he declared for the 2011 NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.
Overcoming Draft Disappointment
Despite participating in 22 separate team workouts, Smith went undrafted in 2011. The disappointment fueled his determination, serving as motivation to prove doubters wrong during a turbulent period complicated by the NBA lockout.
“Not getting my name called, it lit a fire to prove my doubters wrong,” Smith said. “It showed me nothing is promised, nothing is yours, you gotta work for it and earn everything possible.”
To stay sharp during the lockout, Smith played for Soles de Mexicali in Mexico’s Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional before returning to U.S. training camps. That persistence caught the attention of then-Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, launching the professional career that now culminates in his hometown hall of fame induction.
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