Missing the competition: J.R. Smith on his way to play golf in colleges Israel today

J.R. Smith, the former NBA champion with the Cleveland and Lakers surprised many yesterday (Wednesday) when he decided to go to college and play for the North Carolina A&T golf team.

If the NCAA approves his registration, he will enter college for the first time in his life after the best league in the world in basketball, came straight from high school.

The reason Smith has not yet been approved for studies is the fact that athletes who become professionals cannot attend college and take part in one of its sports teams.

Smith hopes decision-makers will rely on the case of Chris Weink, who at age 25 decided to enroll in Florida State University after already playing six professional baseball seasons and leading Florida State to the 1999 championship win.

Smith revealed that the one who convinced him to make the slightly delusional move is former star Allen. "Ray pretty much convinced me to do it. We had a short golf trip to the Dominican Republic, and we talked about a lot of things about the future," he said. "He told me that after basketball he went back to school to challenge himself."