CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The world of sports journalism has a fifth-grade teacher from New Haven to thank for launching Leigh Montville’s career.

Marie Esposito asked Montville, a New Haven native, to stay after class one day to review a book report he had written.

“She said it was the best book report she’d ever had,’’ Montville said Friday, when he received the Red Smith Award at the Associated Press Sports Editors annual conference.

It is the organization’s highest honor.

Montville said Esposito encouraged him to pursue a career in writing, and he did.

His career stops included lengthy stints at the Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, where his flair for language and ability to find unique stories and tell them in unique ways made him a must-read.

“The main thing about the award is the other people who have won the award — Bob Ryan, Bud Collins, two guys I worked with at the Globe, and Dave Smith, and the others,’’ said Montville. “It’s just great to be on the same list as those guys.’’

Montville said he received two important pieces of advice as he pursued his career: look at things sideways, and be fearless. Both were consistent characteristics of Montville’s writing style.

“It was reading Leigh that showed me what was possible in sportswriting,’’ said sportswriter Ian Thomsen, a Montville colleague at the Globe and Sports Illustrated who is now at NBA.com, in his introduction of Montville at Friday’s award luncheon.

“He’s the guy that inspired me.’’