RTR Exclusive: Q&A with Tanner Smith

ClemsonTiger

June 6, 2015

I had a chance to sit down with Tanner Smith, former Clemson shooting guard, and ask him some questions to give us an update on what he has been up to.

Former Tiger basketball player Tanner Smith was gracious enough to give me a few minutes of his time and answer my questions in order to give each of us an update on what he has been doing since he graduated from Clemson University in 2011. At Clemson, he appeared in 96 games in his career while contributing each of his four years on campus.

As a senior, he provided much-needed leadership on and off the court. Smith averaged 11.2 points per game, as well as 4.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. He finished his career with a total free throw percentage of 71.45% and 986 total points. So, let’s take a look at Tanner Smith, the former Clemson Tiger shooting guard.

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at Clemson?

Tanner: My favorite Clemson memories are all the same, making the NCAA tournament 3 of my 4 years and winning our first round game my junior year. There’s nothing better than being a part of March Madness. There’s something special about playing in the greatest sporting event in the country. The teammates I played with will forever hold a bond because of those runs to the tourney. 

Q: Tell us about your experience in international basketball. How has it improved your game overall?

Tanner: International basketball helped me improve as a player and now as a Coach. The dedication to skill development is tireless. In America, I don’t think we stress that enough. International players are taught how to play from a very young age. The coaching is hands on and the details are stressed. As a Coach, I am able to pass along those details to the players and stress exactly what it means to be a professional. It’s not only what you do on the court, but it’s how you take care of your body off the court. A players body is their paycheck, they need to treat it as an investment.

Q: If you could give the current Clemson basketball team advice, what would it be?

Tanner: I consider myself a Tiger through and through. I watch ever my game that I can. While I was playing, I didn’t realize how many past players cared about the program, but now that I’m an alum, I see all the other alums that represent the Clemson name. The program is always the most important thing. I would urge every one of the players to strive to leave the program better than they found it. The more you invest in your teammates, the university, and the process, the better the outcome will be. It’s not easy to do, but those daily investments is what makes a team special.

Q: Who has been an inspiration to you, not just with basketball, but off the court as well?

My daily inspiration is my father. He is a man of great character. His perseverance through his continued illness has been amazing to watch. Even with two leg amputations in two years, he continues to smile and fight the battles on an every day basis.

Q: What kinds of things are you doing with Tanner’s Totes and how can Tiger fans help the cause in donating to your organization?

Thank you, Tanner, for your time and I would encourage each Tiger fan to help out with this organization he has started in order to give back to the community and help out a worthy cause.

Click below for the full article
RTR Exclusive: Q&A with Tanner Smith
Source: Rubbing the Rock