Gary Williams was talking about James Padgett, the 6-9 forward from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn who signed with the Terps Monday. Someone asked Williams the last time Maryland had a player from New York City and Williams was stuck, bringing up Jap Trimble from the early Lefty years and Len Elmore.

I admit that even I was stuck about players from what we in Brooklyn call "The City."

How could we forget Garfield Smith?

Smith, a tough forward from the Bronx by way of some junior college in Kansas, was part of Williams' first recruiting class in 1990. His two-year career in College Park was played out under the cloud of NCAA probation Williams inherited from Bob Wade. Smith averaged almost 11 points and six rebounds, but I will remember most was the night he nearly knocked his coach out of the Maryland record books.

I don't recall all the particulars, but those of us on press row had Smith shooting 9 of 9 from the field. So did the scorer's table, until late in the game or even shortly after it, when he suddenly went 9-for-10. None of us could think of any shots he missed, even on an offensive rebound.

Not until we checked the record books did we think there was a possible conspiracy: one of those who shot 8-for-8 was Williams, in a game against South Carolina in 1966.

Thinking of Smith now, the current Terps can use his toughness inside.

I guess we'll just have to wait for Padgett.