Tyler Smith's father gives approval to Tennessee transfer

By CHRIS LOW Staff Writer

Billy Smith, the father of former Giles County High standout and Tennessee signee Tyler Smith, said Thursday he won't stand in the way of his son's potential transfer to the Vols.

The 6-foot-7 Smith, a third-team All-Big Ten selection at Iowa last season as a freshman, was released from his scholarship last month by the Hawkeyes to be closer to his father, who's about to begin another round of radiation for lung cancer. Billy said Tyler would be the one to announce his future plans, and he expects that to happen in the coming weeks. But Billy said he's already talked with Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl and that the two have hashed out any past differences.

"I'm at a peace with everything," said Billy, who now lives in McMinnville. "I've got no hard feelings for the staff or anybody at Tennessee, and I don't think they have any hard feelings for me."

Tyler originally signed with Tennessee under former Coach Buzz Peterson in November 2004. But after Peterson was fired that next spring and Pearl was hired, Tyler asked to be released from his letter of intent.

Pearl, saying he never was given a chance to re-recruit Tyler, refused to release him from his letter of intent. The whole affair only escalated from there with the two sides digging in and trading barbs.

Ultimately, Tyler failed to qualify academically, which voided his letter of intent with UT. He then attended Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for a year before signing with Iowa under former Coach Steve Alford, who left after last season to take the New Mexico job.

Tyler, one of the top prospects in the country when he came out of high school, led Iowa in rebounding (4.9) and steals (45) last season and was second in scoring (14.9 points) and assists (111).

"We've talked it all out with everybody up on the Hill," Billy said.

"I don't hold grudges. There's nothing there to keep Tyler from going to Tennessee if that's what he wants to do."

Tyler said upon being released from Iowa last month that Tennessee was where he wanted to finish his basketball career.

He hopes to win a hardship appeal with the NCAA that would allow him to play right away at Tennessee without having to sit out a year.

Typically, players have to sit out a year when transferring from one Division I school to another. But that rule can be waived when the NCAA deems that an extenuating family circumstance exists because of an injury or illness. Tennessee would have to file the appeal on Tyler's behalf.

Tyler has said he hopes to be at UT as early as next month for summer school. He has three years of eligibility remaining.