Tyler Smith was in the Memphis airport last week, waiting for a connecting flight to Fort Worth, Tex., to visit his mother.

"All these people started taking pictures of me," said the University of Tennessee senior basketball player. "They thought I was famous, but they didn't know my name."

When the Vols' season came to an abrupt end in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, most expected us to hear Smith's name called at some point in tonight's NBA Draft (ESPN, 7 p.m.).

And Smith certainly flirted with that option. He initially put his name in the draft, which allowed him to work out for NBA teams. The Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs all flew him in for individual sessions. Another camp provided him a chance to show off his skills to 16 teams at once.

But on June 11 Smith announced he would return for his final Big Orange season, adding, "I think we have a great chance to have something special next year."

It wasn't supposed to follow this script. From the moment he transferred from Iowa after his freshman year to be closer to his cancer-stricken father, most expected Smith to spend one year at UT, then head to the pros.

When his father passed away before Tyler ever played a game for the Vols, that scenario appeared even more certain, especially with his young son Amare needing new shoes faster than Tyler could pay for the older ones.

But despite making first-team All-SEC during both his sophomore and junior seasons, despite averaging 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists during those two years combined, the 6-foot-7 Smith has never impressed NBA scouts enough for them to promise him a draft spot in the first round, which is the only one of the league's two rounds that delivers guaranteed money.

"It was a great experience," he said of the draft camps. "Just being able to talk to GMs, find out what I need to work on. I learned a lot."

What Smith learned most was that he needs to continue to improve his perimeter jumpshot and ball-handling.

"I'm taking 1,500 shots a day and trying to get my dribble tighter," he said. "I want to improve my stats in all areas during my senior year."

If you don't think shooting matters in today's NBA, consider that Davidson product Stephen Curry -- who is both shorter and less athletic than Smith, but an extraordinary shooter -- is projected in some mock drafts to go as high as third overall tonight.

So while Curry told www.NBA.com on Wednesday, "I'm starting to get goosebumps up and down my back," Smith is honing his skills in Knoxville's Rocky Top Summer League.

But if he needed money for Amare's sneakers or Big Wheels, why not go to Europe, where the 22-year-old Smith could surely make a six-figure salary for years to come?

"Statistics show," he said, "that the odds of coming back from Europe to make an NBA team are very slim."

Yet there could also be something else at work here that sometimes happens to young folks as they mature, as they begin to realize that money isn't everything, as things like family and friends become more important.

Consider, for instance, Smith's response to the following two questions:

Will you watch the draft?

"Of course," he said. "I've got a lot of friends in this draft and I'm excited to see where they'll go."

Did you watch the NCAA Tournament after you lost to Oklahoma State?

"No," he said. "None of it. I didn't want to watch anybody else celebrating. I wanted us to celebrate. I want to help Tennessee win a championship."

So maybe there really is more to the "Sacrifice" tattoo that covers the front of Smith's neck than a unique spot for permanent ink. Maybe that's why he didn't study Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's jumper as much as his demeanor during the NBA Finals.

"I watched how Kobe talked to his guys, how he motivated them. I want to be that kind of leader."

Smith even believes that may have been what he needed the most work on after last season, when he tried to convince a handful of freshmen and transfers that they could blend with five juniors to be as good as the NCAA Sweet 16 team from a year earlier.

"There was just a lot of frustration with myself last year," he said. "I was trying to do things I don't normally do. I was trying to make up for Chris (Lofton) and JaJuan (Smith) no longer being there. Also Duke (Crews) and Ramar (Smith).

"We're going to have five seniors this year. I've got to let them help me lead the way."

And when he looked at all of that, the decision to stay or go became far easier.

"It was just best," he said, "for me to come back to my teammates and the University of Tennessee."

Or as the "Cheers" theme song lyrics once proclaimed, sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name ... and they're always glad you came (back).

E-mail Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com