THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603150063
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Groovy Sapien
SOURCE: BY MICHAEL C. ALBERO, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
KINTE SMITH is one of the tallest men at Cape Henry Collegiate - and one of the most talented basketball players there. When Kinte was 9, his stepfather and mentor, Don Charlton, taught him the basics of the sport.
``When my dad took me to shoot baskets . . . I felt like this is what I wanted to do,'' Kinte said.
The 18-year-old divides his time between classes, work and practice four times a week. Each practice takes on the aspect of a championship game; Kinte rarely leaves until he physically cannot practice anymore.
``If I didn't work, I'd practice every day,'' he said.
Perhaps what is surprising about the soft-spoken Kinte is that he is not caught up in `The Now.' Kinte plans to attend college close to home and has decided to major in business management and accounting.
My full birth name: Kinte Daniel Smith.
I was born: May 27, 1977.
Job: Barber.
Brothers and sisters: One brother, La'Quentie.
Educationally speaking, I am . . . able to adapt well to different styles of teaching.
My school in three words: Challenging, friendly, dedicated.
The killer day means . . . Getting into an accident, totalling my car and missing a last-second free throw in a championship game.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . I cut off my dreds, because they gave me a bad image with the college scouts.
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . I didn't study for the SATs and scored a 920.
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . pizza.
My personal Oscars go to . . . my parents for getting me into Cape Henry.
The song of the century is . . . ``This Dat Hit'' by Keith Murray.
The grooviest musical artist is . . . Keith Murray and Wutang Clan.
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . watching Japanese animated cartoons and karate flicks, or going to the gym to practice basketball.
Best date I've had: They've all been pretty much the same; I haven't had a ``best'' date.
And the worst? When I got in a car accident while making a U-turn to go back to the girl's house so she could get something.
If I could change one thing about me, I . . . wouldn't be a procrastinator - 95 percent of the time that's how I get myself in trouble.
The best place for mouth-watering chow is . . . Pizza Hut.
I love shopping at . . . Foot Locker.
The ultimate night on the town would include . . . getting paid, going to the mall, buying some sneakers and checking out a party with my friends.
I make special arrangements to watch . . . Nothing. I'm never home.
The last time I had a vacation . . . was summer vacation. I worked and slept late and went on AAU trips (a traveling basketball league).
My best job: Cutting hair.
And the worst? When I was 14, I delivered fliers for a pizza shop and we always got chased by dogs.
I can easily brag about . . . having the talent to do just about anything I want.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . a famous entrepreneur.
If I could change one thing in America, I would . . . improve public school education.
My heroes are . . . Michael Jordan and Martin Luther King Jr.
I am totally unique because . . . I can adjust to whatever type of environment I am in.
What makes you mad? When someone tries to tell me what my capabilities are.
If a film were made about your life, what would be the dramatic turning point? The day I came to Cape Henry after transferring out of public school. It woke me up academically.
Who would star in it? My mom, Shirley; Mrs. Temme, the admissions director at Cape Henry; Esther Sams, my girlfriend; and my brother.
I should be a veejay on MTV because . . . I'm not corny.
If I was a guest on a talk show, it would be . . . Montel Williams, because he gives away money.
My life summed up in four words: Unlucky, stressful, fun, strange. MEMO: Michael Albero is a junior at Cape Henry Collegiate.
ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER/The Virginian-Pilot
Cape Henry Collegiate's Kinte Smith practices some of the basketball
moves he's famous for.
by CNB