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The Jet in 20th year as youth coach

QUARTZ HILL - Before Los Angeles Lakers stars Lamar Odom and Smush Parker were dunking on opponents and making 3-point shots in the NBA, they were playing under two-time champion Kenny "The Jet" Smith in youth basketball leagues.

The retired pro basketball star and current television analyst is best known for his clutch 3-pointers from his days with the Houston Rockets, as well as his constant ribbing with Charles Barkley on TNT.

But this weekend, Smith was in the Valley coaching his three Aim High youth basketball teams from Santa Clarita in the Sizzlin' Summer basketball tournament.

The three-day affair involved over 100 boys and girls teams from every age level including 5th and 6th grade. Smith coaches the Aim High 11-and-under, U-12 and U-13 teams.

The kids in the tournament are there to have fun, but are also trying to be better basketball players.

"They have fun but are also playing competitive basketball so it's a little bit of both," Smith said Sunday after coaching a game at Quartz Hill High School.

Smith's teams travel all over the country and he even has his own tournament coming up on July 6-8.

He began coaching kids at that level with his brother Vincent in 1987, his first year in the NBA. Smith was motivated to coach kids at a young level because of other coaches who taught him at the same age.

"Somebody did it for me, so I wanted to do the same for these kids," he said.

Through his years of coaching, Smith has coached more than 15 players who have made it to the NBA, including Odom and Smush Parker.

And while many of his players only known Smith from TV or have heard his voice on a video game, others value his basketball knowledge.

"He made it to the NBA, so he knows the steps," said Amonte Dees, who plays on Aim High's U-13 team.

Damon Charlot, who is in his first year coaching the U-12 team with Smith, was excited at the prospect of coaching with someone of his caliber.

"His celebrity status got a rouse at first but I was more thrilled to be coaching with someone who has won championships," Charlot said. "It's been a great opportunity to coach with Kenny."

Smith says he will always find time to coach in youth leagues, but he does have a goal to coach at a higher level like college or the NBA someday.

"I've already gotten a few calls so eventually it's going to happen," he said.

See more at www.avpress.com