Long before Russ Smith was a starting guard and one of the stars of top-seeded Louisville, he was a talented fourth grader in East Williamsburg, New York.
For a profile about the junior guard, the New York Daily News unearthed some video of the young Smith showing off his handles, and it is extremely impressive.
Some children would get disciplined for dribbling a basketball on a wooden floor. But not Smith. In fact, his father films the video and even encourages the youngster. At the prompting of his father, Big Russ, the junior Smith displays a few tricks for the camera, notably the butterfly and the spider.
All around it's a very cool compilation:
Louisville fans better hope Smith and fellow guard Peyton Siva have this much control over the rock Monday night. Because if the Cardinals start turning over the ball, Michigan will have a field day in Atlanta.
