PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) - A former Ohio Associated Press Mr. Basketball was shot to death in what could have been a robbery, police said.
The body of Emmanuel H. Smith, 23, was found in the parking lot of Mrs. Rennison's Donut Shop about 2:30 a.m. Friday. He had been shot in the forehead.
"There were things on the scene that would indicate to us that a robbery took place, but we have no way of confirming that," Sgt. Jim Charles said, adding Smith had no wallet or money when he was found.
The 6-foot-3 Smith was named Mr. Basketball in 1999. He averaged 28.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.5 steals a game at Euclid High School in suburban Cleveland.
Smith sat out his freshman season at the University of Akron and averaged 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 2000-2001. He started in eight games his junior year before being declared academically ineligible. He then went to play for Shawnee State University in Portsmouth.
Jared Shoemaker, assistant athletic director at Shawnee State, said Smith was on the basketball team briefly before the start of the season, but never played in any games.

"There's just some decisions made on his part that are poor decisions young men sometimes make and things didn't work out with the basketball team," Shoemaker said. "The guys on the team and the coaching staff all liked him. He was an outstanding young man."

According to Shoemaker, Smith was last enrolled for the 2003 spring term.
Smith's body has been sent to Hamilton County for an autopsy. Police said they had no suspects.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)