Rocky Top Tennessee/JaJuan Smith

Jajuan. A name that has been stumbled upon for four years by the media. Jajuan comes from Cleveland, Tennessee and attended McMinn County High School where he averaged 25 points and six assists as a senior. Jajuan was a McDonald's All-America nominee and earned all-region and all-district each of his four seasons there, as well as, all-state recognition three years. Jajuan was also a leader and was a three-time team MVP. Well worth it as he finished his career as McMinn County's second leading all-time scorer with 2,074 career points. However, he was not heavily recruited despite some fantastic numbers. Smith worked hard and earned a spot on Buzz Peterson's Vols as a walk-on. Jajuan's dreams came true when he earned a scholarship and later was put into the starter position. He hasn't disappointed Vol fans either, as he ranks among Tennessee's career leaders in 3 pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, 3-point percentage, 3-pointers per game, steals, and steals per game. Not to mention, the fact that he has broken the 1000 mark in career points with the Vols and an average of over 14 points per game this year. Jajuan has had close ties to the Vols for some time now as he is the cousin of former Vols Vincent Yarbrough and Del Baker. Jajuan's individual Senior Day came against Florida in which he helped lead the Vols to a 104-82 victory with 23 points,3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Even better, he put the Vols over the century mark with 1:07 left in the game. Jajuan has scored 32 points twice this year coming against Middle Tennessee State and Arkansas. Jajuan has been a key asset over his entire career in the orange and white, and will no doubt have to be one if the Vols want to make any sort of late March/early April run. Thanks for all you've done as a Vol, Jajuan, help the Vols bring home a championship.  

Tennessee senior JaJuan Smith cuts a piece of the basketball net down in celebration of the Volunteers first outright SEC title in 41 years. Tennessee defeated South Carolina 89-56.

Tennessee senior JaJuan Smith is recognized along with family before the last regular season game against South Carolina at Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday. Tennessee won the game 89-56. 
                      

               Meet my friend John.. this is JaJuan's dad.

A good friend and co-worker, its a pleasure every day to go to work and have a nice

friend to talk with, laugh and shoot the breeze. Ja Juan I haven't met you but just from

 talking to your dad and thru all these pictures I feel like I already know you.

Your dad loves you and I know he's so proud of you it shows every day in his words and

 his smile.

Good Luck in your future JaJuan and Congratulations on the SEC Title you guys are

great. I saw a few of your games and it was very exciting to watch.

May all the best come your way in the road that lies ahead.

                                                         Hugs  Bonnie 

                                                 JaJuan's dad( John)

Brothers Stanley and JaJuan

JaJuan and Chris in Knoxville

      As a senior at McMinn County, JaJuan Smith set records and attracted scholarship offers. Instead,  he walked on at Tennessee. And Vol fans are glad he did.

                     

        Crawley: Superb Play Of Vols' JaJuan Smith No Surprise To McMinn Coach
"The Pest''

Photo by UT. JaJuan Smith.

Even when JaJuan "The Pest'' Smith was an eighth-grader, he was making folks around Decatur and AThens raise their eyebrows in disbelief while watching his antics on the basketball court.

"He was real skinny, but he was real good,'' said McMinn County's Keith Elliott, who coached Smith in high school ball.

"We were struggling a little his freshman season, so we moved him into the starting lineup,'' Elliott said. "He was our leading scorer the last 10 games that year. From the beginning of his high school career, you good tell he had a lot of skills.''

Smith walked on at Tennessee last year and earned a scholarship. He had limited playing time under coach Buzz Peterson, but has blossomed this year under new UT coach Bruce Pearl .Smith, nicknamed "The Pest''by members of the Tennessee radio team due to his aggressive play on defense.

"He is a pest,'' Elliott said. "It's unreal they have T-shirts of him in Knoxville with 'The Pest' written on them.

"It's a good description of him. He always guarded the other team's best offensive player for us. He was our stopper.''
"He had his heart set on D-I basketball and UT was a dream for him. He decided walking on was his best option. Really, the fact he wanted to go there so badly may have led some schools to think he wasn't interested in them.''

Smith has put on 15-20 pounds since joining the Vols, and fits perfectly into the Pearl's offensive and defensive schemes.

"His style of play is to get after people,'' Elliott said. "He has long arms, quickness and great anticipation. And under coach Pearl, he has become more than just a shooter. Now, he's driving, rebounding and finishing plays.''

Elliot said he stressed one thing to Smith during his four seasons in Athens -- become a complete player. He never was that at McMinn County, mainly concentrating on shooting three-pointers.

"And now he is starting to develop into that complete player,'' Elliott said. "That's why he is seeing so much significant playing time for the Vols.''

   

                                                               Jajuan and his fans

            JaJuan Smith #2 of theTennessee Volunteers makes a layup against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC Men's Basketball tournament on March 15, 2008 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, on the campus of Georgia Tech, in Atlanta GA.                                                                               

Tennessee's JaJuan Smith signs autographs for fans during a day of practice and press conferences to start the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday. Tennessee will face American University.                                          

      BIRMINGHAM, AL - MARCH 21: JaJuan Smith #2 of Tennessee reacts near the end of a 72-57 win over American University in the first round of the South Regional as part of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on March 21, 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Tennessee's JaJuan Smith practices dribbling during a day of practice and press conferences to start the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday.                                            

   Tennessee's JaJuan Smith smiles at his teammates as the Volunteers pull ahead in overtime against Butler.                                                                   

    Hi, Thank you for dropping by the Juice page be sure to click on "JaJuan and Friends" and

 see lots more photos of the Vols.

Congratulations Tennessee Vols!