DIX HILLS, N.Y. _ Patty Smith was brought to tears.
It was the late morning of April 12 at Half Hollow Hills West High School in New York. Social studies teacher Billy Mitaritonna, who up until two seasons ago was the Colts basketball coach, escorted two visitors into the nurse's office to meet Smith, known here as Nurse Patty for 21 years.
Unbeknownst to her, they were on hand to talk to faculty members about 2010 graduate Tobias Harris, the 76ers' top acquisition before the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
Realizing that, Smith spread her arms, approached one of the visitors, and embraced tightly.
"Promise to give Tobias a hug for me," she said afterward as tears of joy fell from her eyes. "Hug him just like I hugged you."
Smith went on to speak about the pride of one of New York state's top academic high schools that caters to a middle-class town in Long Island with a median household income of $152,263 as of 2017. She mentioned that the 2010 New York Mr. Basketball is a dedicated young man with a kind heart and a passion for hoops.
Smith mentioned that Harris is part of a religious family in which academic achievement is as important as sports.
But moments later, Smith broke down in tears, again.
"He is like an answer to a prayer for me," she said, "and all of my people in Haiti where I have my church and my school."
