From New York Streets to Overseas Courts: The Rise of Big Russ

Send us Fan MailToday on Corey’s Corner, retired NYPD executive Corey Pegues sits down with Russell “Big Russ” Smith.  A Brooklyn son whose journey stretches from the streets to a college scholarship at Molloy, to playing professional basketball overseas. Before college, Russ faced the harsh realities of street life. Basketball became his way out, earning him a scholarship and opening doors he never imagined. After three years at Molloy, he took his talent abroad, playing overseas and building a life far from home.Life shifted. While playing overseas, and in one of the most courageous decisions of his life, he walked away from the career he had built to return home and raise his children. Back in New York, he dedicated himself to teaching his son, Russell Smith Jr., the game that once saved him. That commitment paid off: his son rose to become a standout player, continuing the family’s basketball legacy on a global stage.Today, Big Russ is more than a former athlete — he’s a mentor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and community figure whose voice resonates far beyond Harlem. Support the show