From The Court To The Classroom: J.R. Smith Set To Receive Bachelor’s Degree From NC A&T

Two-time NBA Champion J.R. Smith is winning in education as he is scheduled to graduate with his Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University on May 9, WFMY News 2 reports.  During the 2026 commencement services in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Grammy-Award-winning artist Queen Latifah is scheduled as the speaker, Smith will receive his Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies–applied cultural thought from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. While his time in Aggie Land comes to a close, his time as a student was seemingly well spent.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by HBCU CONNECT (@hbcuconnect) After enrolling as a student, the former New York Knicks player joined the university’s men’s golf program. His transition from the NBA to college student-athlete was featured in the Prime Video docuseries Redefined, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Smith was also named Academic Athlete of the Year for 2021-22. As an athlete in his early years, the New Jersey native decided to forgo college to enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was selected by the then-New Orleans Hornets. During his tenure in the NBA, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, and was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. Officials from A&T describe Smith’s educational path as encouragement that it is never too late to pursue higher education, tackle new challenges, and redefine personal goals. Smith has never been shy…