Smith is the son of Anthony and Yvonne Smith.[1] His father, Anthony, played college basketball at Southern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville and his mother, Yvonne, also played college basketball at SIU Edwardsville.[1] As a child, Smith was a three-sport athlete, competing in baseball, basketball, and football.[2] While in high school, Smith participated in AAU basketball with the Ramey Jets United program through the Adidas circuit.[2]
High school career
As a high school senior, he led Edwardsville to a number one ranking in Illinois for the first time in history while averaging 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, and was named to the first-team Associated Press All-state team.[3][4] Smith was also selected as the 2017 Illinois Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and as 2017 Illinois Mr. Basketball.[3]
Recruiting
During his junior year of high school, Smith originally committed to play college baseball for Missouri as a right-handed pitcher.[5] However, in July 2016 Smith decommitted from Missouri given Tim Jamieson's retirement and because of an injury to the flexor pronator tendon in his throwing elbow.[5] Prior to switching his athletic focus to basketball, Smith featured a fastball in the low-90s and was considered a major league baseball prospect out of high school.[5][6]
On March 5, 2018, he announced he would transfer after playing his freshman season at Illinois.[9] On April 14, 2018, Smith announced he would transfer to Missouri.[10] As a senior, he averaged 9.7 points per game while shooting 31.5 percent from three-point range. He moved to Kansas State as a graduate transfer.[11] Smith was named to the Third Team All-Big 12 as well as the All-Newcomer Team.[12]
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