Tolu Smith

Last updated
Tolu Smith
No. 35–Detroit Pistons
Position Forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2000-07-26) July 26, 2000 (age 24)
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2024: undrafted
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–2025 Motor City Cruise
2025–present Detroit Pistons
2025–present→Motor City Cruise
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-SEC (2023, 2024)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Galen Edward Mitchell "Tolu" Smith III (born July 26, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Contents

High school career

Smith was raised in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and played basketball at Bay High School. [1] He moved with his family to Hawaii in 2017 and enrolled at Kahuku High & Intermediate School in Kahuku for his senior season. [2] He was selected as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State player of the year in 2018. [3]

College career

Smith played his freshman season for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and averaged 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. [3] He elected to transfer at the end of the season to join his home state Mississippi State Bulldogs. [3] Smith sat out the 2019–20 season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer rules. [4]

Smith appeared in 30 games during his sophomore season but only started 20 during his junior season as he battled multiple injuries. [4] He returned to full health for his senior season in 2022–23 and started all 34 games. [4] Smith averaged 15.7 points with a league-leading 57.2% field goal percentage to earn first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors. [5] He declared for the 2023 NBA draft but returned to Mississippi State for his fifth year of collegiate eligibility. [5] Smith averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game during the 2023–24 season and was named to the All-SEC first-team. [6]

Professional career

Detroit Pistons / Motor City Cruise (2024–present)

After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Smith joined the Detroit Pistons for the 2024 NBA Summer League [7] and on September 17, 2024, he signed with the team. [8] However, he was waived on October 17 [9] and on October 29, he joined the Motor City Cruise. [10] On January 6, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Pistons. [11]

Personal life

Smith was born to an African-American father and Samoan mother. [2] His father, Galen, worked as a computer specialist for the Naval Oceanographic Office, [2] and previously played college basketball in the United States Virgin Islands. [12] Smith's mother, Shannel, played basketball for the South Alabama Jaguars. [12] His older brother, Galen Jr., played basketball for the Xavier Gold Rush. [13]

Smith's nickname, "Tolu", means "three" in Samoan as he was the third Galen in his family. [14] He received his initials, G.E.M.S., because his parents considered he and his brother to be their "gems". [14]

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References

  1. ↑ McCoskey, Jevan (August 15, 2024). "Former Mississippi State basketball star Tolu Smith returns to Bay St. Louis to speak with Bay-Waveland middle school basketball team". WXXV25.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Abramo, Nick (November 21, 2017). "Kahuku welcomes major hoops talent in Smith". Hawaii Prep World. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Honda, Paul (December 24, 2020). "Life after Kahuku: Tolu Smith thriving at Mississippi State". Hawaii Prep World. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Krajisnik, Stefan (March 7, 2024). "How Tolu Smith has overcome injury to build powerful legacy at Mississippi State basketball". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Krajisnik, Stefan (May 21, 2023). "Tolu Smith, Mississippi State basketball's All-SEC forward, announces 2023-24 decision". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ DeMello, Rob (June 26, 2024). "Kahuku's Tolu Smith awaits hopeful NBA opportunity". KHON 2. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ Rosenberg, Benjamin (July 17, 2024). "Four former Mississippi State players taking talents to NBA Summer League". The Dispatch. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ Adams, Luke (September 18, 2024). "Pistons Sign Three Players To Camp Contracts". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ Pistons PR [@Pistons_PR] (October 17, 2024). "The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has waived Aaron Estrada, Javante McCoy, Dereon Seabron, Tolu Smith, and Lamar Stevens. Detroit's roster now stands at 15, including one two-way contract" (Tweet). Retrieved October 17, 2024– via Twitter.
  10. ↑ Motor City Cruise [@MotorCityCruise] (October 29, 2024). "Training camp roster ready to get to it 👏 #MotorCityBasketball" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2024– via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Pistons PR [@Pistons_PR] (January 6, 2025). "The @DetroitPistons announced today that the team has signed Ron Harper Jr. and Tolu Smith to two-way contracts. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. In a related move, the Pistons waived forward Cole Swider and guard Alondes Williams" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Twitter.
  12. 1 2 Magee, Patrick (February 11, 2017). "Towering, talented: Smith brothers have Bay High eyeing title run". SunHerald.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ Abramo, Nick (November 13, 2017). "Kahuku transfer Smith signs with WKU". Hawaii Prep World. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Honda, Paul (March 20, 2018). "Q&A: Kahuku hoopster, All-State POY Tolu Smith". Hawaii Prep World. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
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