Hawks, Smith to recognize Rajaan Bennett

The connection between Josh Smith and Rajaan Bennett was through McEachern High School, where both had been students and star athletes, and the two also met briefly last summer.

The meeting left enough of an impression on Smith that he was moved to help after Bennett was shot and killed Feb. 18.

Smith, a Hawks forward, recently pledged to pay for six months of living expenses for Bennett’s survivors: his mother, Narjaketha, his sister, Narcharlette, and his brother, Desyvon. Smith and Narjaketha are to meet Saturday before the Hawks recognize Bennett before their game against the Pistons.

“I just want to make sure she doesn’t have to worry about things for a while,” Smith said.

Smith’s contribution “obviously is going to be tremendous for our goals,” said McEachern athletics director Jimmy Dorsey. He said a memorial fund started by the school already has raised enough money to pay for Bennett’s funeral.

The next goal is to find new housing for the family since Narjaketha doesn’t want to stay in the rental home where Rajaan was shot by her former boyfriend. Dorsey said the fund also would like to purchase a vehicle for Narjaketha so she will have reliable transportation to work.

If there is money left over after those needs are met, Dorsey said a trust fund would be established for the surviving children. Rajaan Bennett’s father died when he was in the sixth grade.