Ike Smith

Ikeon Deonta Smith (born July 5, 1997) is an American basketball player for the Gießen 46ers of the Basketball Bundesliga. He played college basketball for Georgia Southern.

Ike Smith
Gießen 46ers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (1997-07-05) July 5, 1997
Gainesville, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolGainesville
(Gainesville, Florida)
College
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–presentGießen 46ers
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Sun Belt (2017)
  • Third-team All-Sun Belt (2020)

Early life and high school career

Smith grew up in Gainesville, Florida and mainly played football growing up. He began to focus more on basketball after getting injured playing basketball in sixth grade. Smith attended Gainesville High School and competed for Florida Elite in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) play.[1] He continued playing quarterback on the football team in addition to playing basketball.[2] As a senior, Smith averaged 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He leading Gainesville to the FHSAA 6-A State Championship Game, where they lost to Miami Norland Senior High School despite 21 points and 10 rebounds from Smith.[3] He was named to the First-Team All-State and was County Player of the Year.[2] In April 2015, Smith committed to Georgia Southern over offers from South Alabama, Jacksonville, Tennessee Tech, Western Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Ohio, and Arkansas State.[3] He chose the Eagles because his cousin, Willie Powells, attended the university and he told Smith stories about how much he enjoyed it.[1]

College career

Sith averaged 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game as a freshman at Georgia Southern.[4] On December 1, 2016, Smith scored a career-high 29 points and had five rebounds in a 94-75 win against Savannah State.[5] As a sophomore, Smith led the Sun Belt in scoring with 19.6 points per game, and led Georgia Southern in rebounding with 5.2 rebounds per game.[6] He joined teammate Tookie Brown on the First Team All-Sun Belt.[7] Smith struggled with an ankle sprain as a junior.[8] He averaged 12.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.[9]

Smith played the first 10 games of his senior season, averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He sustained a back injury, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, and he sought a medical hardship waiver for another season of eligibility.[10] The waiver was granted in June 2019.[11] As a redshirt senior, Smith averaged 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, scoring double figures in 24 games. He was named to the Third Team All-Sun Belt and Second Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.[12] Smith received the 2020 All-American Athlete Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He finished his career second on the Georgia Southern Division I scoring list with 1,931 points and 10th at Georgia Southern in rebounds (668).[13]

Professional career

On September 17, 2020, Smith signed his first professional contract with the Gießen 46ers in Germany.[14]

References
  1. Williams, Marqus (February 2, 2016). "Ike Smith makes his impact on the court". The George-Anne. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  2. Arnold, Amanda (November 5, 2019). "Returning from injury, Ike Smith using experience to his advantage". The George-Anne. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. "Men's Basketball Signs Ike Smith in Spring Signing Period". Georgia Southern Eagles. April 15, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. Zembal, Jacey (November 11, 2016). "Wait is over". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  5. "Men's Basketball Runs Past Savannah State". Georgia Southern Eagles. December 1, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  6. Jilk, Thomas (November 9, 2017). "Ike Smith in contention to be named nation's top mid-major player". The George-Anne. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  7. "UTA's Hervey, Cross cap memorable season with individual honors" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  8. Anthony, Mike (November 4, 2019). "Eagle Basketball tips off season against #24 Auburn". Statesboro Herald. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  9. Mitchell, Greg (May 27, 2018). "Tookie Brown withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Georgia Southern". Mid-Major Madness. SB Nation. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  10. "SPORTS BRIEFS: Georgia Southern's Ike Smith to seek a medical hardship waiver". Savannah Morning News. February 11, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  11. Wallace, Jake (June 20, 2019). "Southern's Smith granted medical hardship waiver". WTOC. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  12. "Ike Smith Named NABC All-District". Georgia Southern Eagles. March 23, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. Baxley, McClain (April 13, 2020). "National honor for Georgia Southern basketball player Ike Smith". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  14. "Giessen 46ers sign Smith just out of college". Eurobasket. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
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