There was no father in the household when Finney-Smith grew up, so his oldest brother Ra-Shawn “Peanut” Finney, became the male leader. Ra-Shawn was an honor roll student, captain of the football team and worked at Pizza Hut. As the primary source of income in the family, Peanut paid for basketball trips and other school needs. He was a role model for Dorian and his other siblings.
Dorian’s mother, Desiree, cleaned houses and businesses, and all six of her children blossomed into standout athletes. The family didn’t have much, but they had enough and plenty of love to keep things moving.