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AMERICAN BASKETBALL INSTITUTE
LONNIE "RO" WADE
Basketball Operations
San Diego, CA
JAMES SPARROW
AMBASSADOR/DIRECTOR
Home of the ABI WARRIORS
ABI STAFF Members
LEE SMITH
DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
CARLOS SMITH
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Carlos Smith Joins ABI from Dillard University, located in New Orleans, LA. Dillard is a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Smith spent the last 6 years at Dillard as the assistant men’s basketball coach.
“I am excited to join the American Basketball Institution. I look forward to working with the players and coaches and bringing my experiences on and off the court to the organization to help enhance its success.”
Smith has 6 years of coaching experience. He was the recruiting and academic coach at Dillard. Smith recruited and signed division one transfers. He also recruited and signed two GCAC freshmen of the year and some GCAC academic all-Americans. Smith was also the strength and conditioning coach and individual instructor.
Smith played collegiate basketball at the University of South Alabama under former coach John Pelphrey (University of Florida assistant men’s basketball). Smith spent four years as the starting point guard, where he led the team to two post season appearances including the NCAA Tournaments and NIT tournament (2005-2007).
Smith also led the team to two Sun-Belt Conference Championship titles (2005-2007).
Smith was named to the Sun-Belt All-Conference Team (2007).
After college, Smith signed a professional contract to play basketball in Cyprus, Greece for Achilleas Kaimakliou in the Pro A league where he averaged 14 points and 6 assists in one season.
Smith attended Notre Dame Preparatory School located in Fitchburg, Ma. There he played with players such as Gary Ervin (Mr. Basketball New York, 2003) and Will Blaylock (39th pick in 2007 NBA Draft). Bill Barton (University of Pittsburgh assistant men’s basketball coach) was Smith’s coach at Notre Dame Prep. Smith helped to lead the team to the National Prep School Championship where they lost to Hargrave Academy and finished top 10 in the Nation amongst Post Grad Academies (2003) finishing with a 36-3 record overall. Smith averaged 18ppg, 4apg, and 4spg.
“I attended Post Grad School and I understand the grind that these kids are faced with and what it takes to get to the level that they are trying to achieve. I want to help these kids achieve those goals of signing an academic and athletic collegiate scholarship. I know I can bring tons of vital experience to this organization and I will do all that I can to ensure that these kids get the guidance and coaching needed to become better players. I will be tough on them, but also positive towards them.”
Smith is a native of the metro Atlanta Area where he attended Tri-Cities High School. He is a well-known basketball figure around the area and played for mega AAU organizations such as Team Georgia under Albert Outlaw and the Atlanta Celtics under James Clark. Smith also played for the World Wide Renegades AAU organization and which he helped to create. Smith says his God brother, Kevin Wells, started the organization because he wanted Smith and Smith’s best friend to play on the same AAU team, and also their other high school teammates in hopes of helping them gel together over the spring and summer to increase chances of winning a state championship.
“Carlos is special because through the good times and the bad, we have shared both, he was always hardworking, loyal, coachable and a source of great encouragement to all those around him. Carlos is of high morals and great character.” (John Pelphrey)
Smith has his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and his Master’s degree in Sports Administration and Marketing.
NBA VETERAN; SEC LEDGEND/ UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ALL TIME GREAT
LITTERIAL GREEN-
HEAD COACH/ CHANCELLOR
Litterial Green is one of the most recognizable athletes to ever emerge from the state of Mississippi. In 1999-2000, Green was voted as “One of the 50 Greatest Athletes in the State of Mississippi in the 20th Century” (#37) by Sports Illustrated.
He began his basketball career at Moss Point High School in Moss Point, MS.
While in high school he was a Consensus-Prep All-American, McDonald’s All-American and Parade Magazine All-American.
As s high school senior, Green Led the Nation in Scoring. He averaged 39.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists during his senior year in high school. Scoring over 50 points on seven different occasions led to Green’s 1st place ranking among United States High school players. Green was named to First Team All State in Mississippi two consecutive years. (1987-1988).. His Senior Year, Green Was Also Voted MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR by the ATLANTA TIP-OFF CLUB.
Green received over 200 basketball scholarship offers and chose the University of GEORGIA to continue his education and basketball endeavors. Green was a four-year starter for the Georgia Bulldogs and in just his 2ndseason, he led the Georgia Bulldogs to the schools 1stSoutheastern Conference Championship in the UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY. He was named to the SEC ALL FRESHMAN TEAM, AND ALSO VOTED 3rd TEAM FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN. Green was named to the ALL-SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM FOR 3 consecutive years. While at the University of Georgia, Green became the 12 all-time leading scorer in the HISTORY OF THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE. Currently he is the University of Georgia ALL- TIME LEADING SCORER IN CAREER POINTS (2,111), THREE POINT FIELD GOALS MADE (215), and SECOND in ASSIST (566) surpassing Dominique Wilkins and Vern Fleming’s records respectively. Mr. Green is the only player in the University of Georgia’s basketball history to score over 2,000 points. In his Senior Year, Green was voted one of the top 20 Finalists for the nationally coveted (College Player Of the Year) John Wooden Award. However, Green’s most prestigious collegiate accomplishment occurred during his senior year and still remains 20 years later. Green is 1 of 3 players in SEC History to score over 2,000 points and record over 400 assists. Pete Maravich, Litterial Green and Alan Houston.
Drafted in the NBA by the world champion Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 1992 NBA draft, 39thoverall pick, Green played for four teams in seven years. In July 1992, Green was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he teamed with Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway from 1992-1995. Green continued his professional career in Europe with LeMans France for the 1994-95 season averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 assists per game. In 1995-96, Green Signed to Play Professionally in Le Mans FRANCE. There he averaged 16.5 points and 8.7 assists per game. In 1996-97, Green returned back to the NBA and signed with the Detroit Pistons teaming with Grant Hill and Joe Dumars. In 1998-99 Green signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. There he teamed with Ray Allen and Glen Robinson. His Final Year In the NBA was in 1999, after the NBA LOCKOUT, Green Signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one year. In 2000 Green returned to Europe and Played in Italy, Poland and Turkey respectively. In 2003, While Playing in Turkey, he had a Career ending knee injury during a game, which soon after ended Green’s Basketball career.
After his 12 year professional Basketball career, in 2003, Green began doing color commentating for Comcast Sports and ESPN. In 2004-2005, Green was named Head Coach of the Southern Crescent Lightening in the World Basketball Association where he led his team to the League championship titled. Green was voted Coach of the year. Greens team was lead by Josh Powell presently a member of the Atlanta Hawks and a key reserve on the 2009 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Green. In 2005, Green was Named the Head Coach of the Chattanooga Steamers of the American Basketball Association. After A Brief Stint in the ABA, Green Returned To ESPN As A College Basketball Color Analyst....til present.
Mr. Green serves on the board for numerous foundations. He's the recipient of the NAACP Lifetime membership award. Mr. Green is a consultant for the Jamaican National Basketball Association. He also serves as a consultant for the Detroit Pistons and currently the Philadelphia 76ers under Head Coach Doug Collins who coached Green with the Detroit Pistons in 1996-97. Mr. Green is an active member of the NBA Retired Players Association.
Litterial Green’s Extraordinary Accomplishments
* Consensus High School All-American
* In 1988 Led Nations in Scoring As A High School Senior (39.5 points per game)
* Mississippi High School Player of the Year (Naismith)
* Basketball Weekly 3rd Team Freshman All-American
* University of Georgia’s All-Time Leading Scorer
* 11th All-Time Leader in Scoring in the History of the Southeastern Conference
* 1990 SEC Champion
* All-SEC 4 Consecutive Years
* 1992 John Wooden Award All-American Team Finalist
* Tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar UCLA Paully Pavillion Record: Most Points in a Half- 32 points
* Only University of Georgia Basketball Player to ever Score over 2,000 points
* 1 of 3 Players in SEC History To Score Over 2,000 points and Record over 400 assist (Pete Maravich, Litterial Green, and Alan Houston)
* 1992 NBA Draft Pick #39 by the World Champion Chicago Bulls
* A Member of the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and The Cleveland Cavs
* Voted By Sports Illustrated to the Top 50 Greatest Athletes From The State of Mississippi in the 20th Century #37
* 2004/ 2005 WBA Coach of the year
EUGENE HARRIS-PRESIDENT
DJ MONTGOMERY- CFO
JUSTIN FRANKLIN- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TONY LAMARR- SPECIAL ADVISOR/ AMBASSADOR
DIRECTOR- PAUL ANTHONY
MARKETING/ PLAYER RELATIONS- IRIS SETTLE
KEVIN PORTER- ADMISSIONS
MARCEL WADE- DIRECTOR OF VIDEOGRAPHY
JASON SHOTES-STRENGTH &CONDITIONING DIRECTOR