City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue
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R.J. Smith remembers playing up two age groups as an 8-year-old when he first started AAU.

“I was playing with the older guys, and I would get beat on, but I was still come the next day and I would still fight,” Smith recalls. “I think that's where I get some of my fire from.”

Smith, a 5-foot-9 point guard, still prides himself on his toughness. When deciding on where he will play his college hoops, Smith found a coach who does the same.

The 2026 guard announced on his Instagram on May 25 that he committed to play at La Salle University under first-year coach Darris Nichols, who was announced as head coach in March.

“(Nichols) has a great background, actually,” Smith told CoBL in a phone interview this week. “He's tough. He talks about his main focus is really defense. That's what I love to do. I could play both ends, but if you can't lock up, you can't win games. The main focus is on toughness.”

Smith spent his first three high school seasons at Imhotep Charter, winning three Public League championships and a pair of PIAA titles during his time with the Panthers. He plans to enroll at Roman Catholic in the fall.

He went from the sixth man as a freshman on a nationally ranked team to a starter as a sophomore and had a breakout junior campaign, averaging 16 ppg, 4 apg and 3 spg while earning the Public League MVP award and first team all-state honors.  

Smith first received the offer from La Salle on Feb. 16 when Fran Dunphy was manning the sidelines for the Explorers. However, Nichols went to one of Smith’s practices when he first got the job and ensured the offer still stood to join what he was building at the Explorers.

He chose La Salle over Drexel and Merrimack, making the decision while sitting in his hotel room during the the third Nike EYBL session in Kansas City, Kansas.

“I really was able to sit in my hotel room and just thinking about it," Smith said. "I was like, that's the best situation for me right now.”

“It’s a great situation, family environment. I’m wanted and needed there, so it’s somewhere I want to be at and I want to play.”

Smith should have a familiar face on Olney already by the time he gets there in 2026. College Achieve Prep 2025 forward Naas Hart, who also played for Team Final, announced his commitment to the Explorers earlier this week. Ashton Walker, a 2025 guard from Catholic (Va.), is the only other high school player from the 2025 class.

Smith is Nichols’ first 2026 recruit. What do he and his staff hope the Philly point guard can bring to the program?

“I'm a leader at heart, so that always goes a long way," Smith said. "Everybody respects my opinion and my voice, and I'm a leader on and off the court."

Smith has had plenty of basketball mentors throughout his life. Former Boys’ Latin and Boston/Creighton standout Maurice Watson is on the list. He grew up in the Frankford section of the city going to the park with former Imhotep Justin Edwards, who was with the 76ers last season bringing Tyrese Maxey to Smith’s games.

When he arrived at Imhotep, Rahmir Barno and Ahmad Nowell showed him the ropes at the point guard spot before they headed on to play at the Division I level.

“They just got me better,” Smith said. “As time went on, playing against those guys every day, them pushing me and being the best player I can be, especially at the point guard position. They told me, ‘Don’t back down from nothing. You can achieve anything if you have the mind for it. You’ve got the talent, just keep pushing yourself and keep working and everything will happen for you.”

Of all Smith’s “old heads,” his father Ryan Smith stands out for his influence. Ryan played at Strawberry Mansion and has continued to stay involved in the sport as both a trainer and referee. 

“He trained me since I was young,” Smith said. “Ever since I wanted to take basketball serious, he’s pushed me and pushed me to every level and pushed me even when I didn't want to be pushed. …  He just instilled that mindset, like out here in the basketball world we’re not gonna be able to be soft. You have to be mentally tough at all times. And that's why I always carry a chip on my shoulder.”

Smith said he always had confidence he could play the game at as high of a level as he wanted. That first year at Imhotep he proved that to himself in both games and practices. The following summer he felt it begin to become more of reality as attention from colleges ticked up.

This past summer at Philly Live was when he knew for sure he’d be a Division I player, receiving his first offers from Delaware State and Bryant.

Now, that it's official he's ready to continue to raise the bar.

“It’s great that a guy my size can play at the Division I level, especially the A-10,” Smith said. “I’ve always been confident, but these last two years, I’ve been real confident in my abilities,” he added. “I feel like the best player on the court every time I step out on the court.”