EXHIBIT 5.1

    Opinion of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.
                                     Lawyers
                                 P. O. Box 2611
                          Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
                               Phone: 919-821-1220
                                Fax: 919-821-6800

                                 August 10, 2000


Cree, Inc.
4600 Silicon Drive
Durham, North Carolina 27703

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As counsel for Cree,  Inc., a North Carolina  Corporation  (the  "Company"),  we
furnish the following  opinion in connection  with the proposed  issuance by the
Company of up 136,543  shares of its common stock,  $0.01 par value (the "Common
Stock"),  pursuant  to the Nitres,  Inc.  1999 Stock  Option/Issuance  Plan (the
"Plan").  These  securities  are the subject of a  Registration  Statement to be
filed by the Company with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on Form S-8
(the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), to which this opinion is to be attached as an exhibit. This opinion
is furnished  pursuant to the  requirement  of Item  601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K
under the 1933 Act.

We have  examined the Articles of  Incorporation  and the Bylaws of the Company,
the  minutes of  meetings of its Board of  Directors,  and such other  corporate
records of the Company and other  documents and have made such  examinations  of
law as we have  deemed  relevant  for  purposes  of this  opinion.  We also have
received  a  certificate  of an  officer  of the  Company,  dated  of even  date
herewith,  relating to the  issuance of the Common  Stock  pursuant to the Plan.
Based on such  examination  and such  certificate,  it is our  opinion  that the
136,543 shares of Common Stock of the Company that are being registered pursuant
to the Registration  Statement have been duly  authorized,  and when duly issued
and delivered  against payment of the  consideration  therefor  expressed in the
applicable  resolutions  of the  Board  of  Directors  or a  committee  thereof,
pursuant to the Plan as described  in the  Registration  Statement,  such shares
will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

The opinion set forth  herein is limited to matters  governed by the laws of the
State of North  Carolina,  and no opinion is expressed  herein as to the laws of
any  other  jurisdiction.  The  opinion  set  forth  herein  does not  extend to
compliance with state and federal  securities laws relating to the sale of these
securities.

We  hereby  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to  the
Registration Statement that the Company is about to file with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission.  Such consent shall not be deemed to be an admission  that
this firm is within the  category of persons  whose  consent is  required  under
Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the  regulations  promulgated  pursuant to the 1933
Act.

                                     Very truly yours,


                                     SMITH, ANDERSON, BLOUNT, DORSETT,
                                       MITCHELL & JERNIGAN, L.L.P.