Dean Smith certainly knew how to recruit, but his pitch to them wasn't necessarily focused on basketball.
If you need proof, look no further than Antawn Jamison, one of the greatest players ever to wear the Carolina blue uniform. Jamison shared his recruitment experience in a recent appearance on "Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady," a story that offers a glimpse of the kind of man Dean Smith was.
Dean Smith’s promise to Antawn Jamison went far beyond basketball
Jamison told Vince Carter (his former teammate at UNC) and Tracy McGrady that Smith never promised him any on-court guarantees during his recruitment. He didn't guarantee playing time or even that an NBA team would draft him; instead, he focused on what the University of North Carolina could offer Jamison that would affect him for his entire life.
“I can tell you that he’s going to get an education, he’s going to graduate, and he’s going to become a better man than he was before he came into my university."
Antawn Jamison says Dean Smith never promised him an NBA career or playing time, but did promise him he would get a degree and become a better man
— Josh Chambers (@JoshChambers) October 2, 2026
“I think the biggest thing is that Coach cared about the person. It wasn’t all about just what you can do for this basketball… pic.twitter.com/hwmWr8PMoh
While Jamison and his family thought it was a little crazy at the time, Smith's recruiting pitch resonated with them over time. In fact, it showed Jamison how much Smith cared about him as an actual person, an experience that not every recruit has when they go on official visits to campus.
Most colleges (especially nowadays) emphasize NIL, playing time, and, of course, a path to the NBA. That is the complete opposite of how Smith recruited players to the University of North Carolina, and it's safe to say no coaches still follow Smith's blueprint.
The world of college athletics has driven this drastic change, but you have to wonder what Smith would think if he were still around to see it unfold.
Imagine a high school recruit in 2026 walking into Dean Smith's office and hearing his pitch. Sure, some would resonate with it, just as Jamison and many others did, but in the world of "bag chasing," a lot of these top-tier recruits wouldn't be interested, especially if they plan on being "one-and-done" prospects.
Sadly, earning a college degree and staying at one university for your entire career isn't cool anymore.
This story is another reminder of how Dean Smith was truly unique. There will never be another of his kind, even though we've seen some coaches (especially guys like Roy Williams) who have come pretty daggum close to following a similar coaching style.
No disrespect to anyone else, but Smith's shoes will never be filled, and it's amazing that some of his former players still share these incredible stories so future generations can see what a special individual he was.
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