If you’ve ever watched ESPN, you’ve seen him. A longtime staple on the sports network, Marty Smith’s Southern charm and storytelling, whether here in the United States or overseas, has made him one of the network’s most well-known and respected faces.

Smith has been in Maine this week to take in the Pine Tree State and its reaction to native son Cooper Flagg’s impending selection in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. The Morning Sentinel spoke Wednesday with Smith at Hamlin’s Marina on Sebasticook Lake about his thoughts on Maine, Flagg hysteria, and more.

Q: What do you like most about Maine?

Smith: There’s a couple things. I grew up in rural America, in Appalachia, and being here was such a key reminder to me of the power of small-town sensibilities and the importance of those values that all these NBA GMs have raved over with Cooper Flagg. It’s that selflessness and that humility as a player; it’s that willingness to exhaust yourself and maximize your gifts; it’s that wonderful desire to bring all of those people with him. That emotion matters. I was saying earlier, I have a few famous friends, and when you were someone who was there before they were famous, and they really cherish the loyalty that you’ve shown them and the friendship that you’ve built and want to bring you along on that journey, it is such a special emotion for that person. Having spoken with Alex Grant and Dawson Townsend, two of his Nokomis teammates, they mentioned that to me. It’s so fulfilling and matters so deeply to them that he wants them there. It’s that idyllic Americana town with American flags hanging over Elm Street as you enter off the interstate, and gorgeous lakes. I’ve really enjoyed my time and meeting the people.

Q: What’s your reaction to Newport and Maine rallying around Cooper Flagg?

Smith: I’m not the least bit surprised because you feel and sense the pride that they have. I was talking to Mary Nadeau, the principal at Nokomis who has been at that school for 33 years and has known Cooper since he was born. She said the overarching emotion in the town is overwhelming joy, and these are her words: ‘This doesn’t happen in Maine.’ So, for them to live vicariously on this journey with Cooper and his family just means so much to them that they do feel included.

I’ve got to tell you a funny story I learned. Bob Berg owns Bear’s One-Stop right there. So, Bob challenges the local high school kids to H-O-R-S-E, and if they beat him, he gives them a tank of gas for free. So, I said, ‘Why haven’t you played Cooper Flagg?’ and he responds, ‘He got a free tank of gas.’ It’s so many little things like that. The people are wonderful, and it’s been an honest-to-goodness blessing to get to spend this time here.

Q: What places in Maine have you liked the most?

Smith: I went to Samoset (Resort in Rockport), and I want to golf there; that place is incredible. My wife’s there right now enjoying the spa. Since I’m driving from there to here, let me tell you about one town that’s really cool: Camden. Camden has this beautiful little downtown strip, and I enjoyed the aesthetic that so many of the businesses have all adopted this gold lettering. It looks really sharp driving through their downtown. My wife and I drove over this morning to this awesome little diner called the Buttermilk Cafe for breakfast, and they had these doughnut biscuits — holy crap; sin on a plate. … (Here in Newport), I actually did a live shot driving a boat on “SportsCenter” earlier, and (Sebasticook Lake) is gorgeous. I have the blessing of living on a lake in North Carolina, Lake Norman, so I’m a boater, and I’m a water guy. The guys here at Hamlin’s Marina, they took me out two nights ago to check it out at dusk, and you can’t paint a prettier picture. It’s gorgeous, and I love that it’s the centerpiece of Newport.

Q: Have you had a lobster roll yet?

Smith: Oh, many; I’ve had multiple, and they’re just so good. I had one at the Samoset last night and it was all of this fresh lobster. That might be every day for you guys here in Maine, but that’s abnormal for us. Well, I took one bite of it and I was like, ‘Ho-ly bleep.’ It was delicious; I want to have another one here tonight.