Friends of Basketball

Jimmy Smith

Year Inducted: 2000

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: (Chicago) DuSable High School
Kennedy-King College
Chicago State University

Biography: One of the most familiar voices in Chicagoland isn’t a radio or TV personality. It could well be Jimmy Smith, the public address announcer at Kennedy-King College. Smith, a graduate of DuSable High School, holds degrees from Kennedy-King and Chicago State.  For 23 years at the time of his induction, Jimmy had been an announcer for the Chicago Public League, not only in basketball, but also for football and track and field. Smith made a very colorful contribution to high school athletics in Chicago. Coaches, players, fans and administrators knew they could always call on Jimmy. If Smith had a microphone at his IBCA Hall of Fame induction you might hear him announce, “Innnnnnnnn the Hall of Fame – Jimmy Smith.”