For most major college basketball players, being asked to throw out the first pitch at a minor league baseball game wouldn't require a lot of instruction.
But University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate transfer Thomas Smallwood isn't a normal transfer. He's seven feet of arms, legs, red hair and red beard who grew up in Bordeaux, France. The last time he threw a pitch from a pitcher's mound was also the first time, which just happened to be Monday night before the Chattanooga Lookouts' game against the Mississippi Braves at AT&T Field.
"I used to play a little cricket in France with my dad, who's from England," said Smallwood, whose Twitter handle is reportedly #TooTallSmall. Or something like that.
Asked if he knew much about America's Pastime, the player replied, "Baseball's fun to watch for awhile, but I wouldn't watch a whole game. It's a little slow-paced."
(Side note: When baseball commissioner Rob Manfred wants to better understand why only 6 percent of Americans 35 or under list baseball as their favorite sport, Smallwood's quote should lead his explanations.)
But because Smallwood is quite enjoying his first summer in the Scenic City after graduating from Alabama-Birmingham this past spring with a communications degree, he not only agreed to toss the ceremonial first pitch but asked UTC head coach Lamont Paris for some advice.
A youth league pitcher during his childhood in Ohio, Paris told him, "Throw it higher than you think you should."
So after Paris preceded him on the mound by tossing a pitch that was slightly high and just a wee bit outside, Smallwood unleashed an understated windup with a low leg kick, then fired a dart with his right arm. At least it was a dart until it hit the dirt three feet in front of the plate.
Asked to critique his effort, Smallwood replied, "It's a little farther than it looks."
Reminded of his coach's pre-toss instructions to him, Too Tall Small smiled and said, "It's the preseason. I'll listen more later."
According to Paris, the listening during summer workouts has gone quite well. Able to coach his players eight hours a week thanks to more common-sense NCAA rules, the second-year Mocs coach has scripted five of those hours for the weightroom and three for basketball.
"So far we're sharing the ball well, moving the ball, better shot selection," Paris said. "We played hard last year, but this is another level of competitiveness. It's a pleasure to be out there with them."
Redshirt sophomore David Jean-Baptiste, having spent part of his summer with the Haitian national team, sees similar improvement from a year ago.
"I like our hunger, the way we're competitive with each other," said Baptiste, who almost always played with hunger and fire last season. "And we're making plays past the first or second option this year. We have more confidence in making plays for each other, and we'll have more depth."
As Jean Baptiste spoke, he also handed out team-autographed UTC hand fans to Lookouts supporters making their way into the steamy ballpark.
"I like seeing the smiles on the kids' faces," he said as he and his teammates and the Mocs coaching staff greeted the crowd prior to the pitches of Paris and Smallwood. "This is fun."
Smallwood didn't choose UTC for the fun he thought he'd have, though he's enjoyed dining at Big River Grille and Urban Stack as well as soaking in "the nature part."
But he mostly came here for the hoops, because "I needed a fresh start" and because "Coach Paris worked for four years with Frank Kaminsky at Wisconsin, and I try to emulate some of the things he did."
Indeed, much as the big man Kaminsky gained a reputation as a lethal perimeter shooter before heading to the NBA, Paris already proclaims Smallwood to be "one of the three best perimeter shooters we have."
He also figures to be one of the most well-rounded players off the court the Mocs have had in years, one who lists swimming, reading and playing the guitar among his favorite interests away from basketball.
His favorite guitar player?
"John Butler," Smallwood said. "You've probably never heard of him. He plays the 12-string guitar. He has the John Butler Trio."
If you're interested, one of the Australian-based John Butler Trio's biggest hits is the infectious, upbeat "Better Than."
But just in case you're concerned that Smallwood hasn't listened as closely as he might have to Paris in the preseason, he quickly mentioned the need to improve his defense.
"Offense is great," he said, "but if you want to see the floor, you better learn to play defense."
If his teammates embrace a similar mindset, the Mocs might be a tad bit better than anyone thinks possible today.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com