Dru Smith Explained

Dru Smith
Position:Shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:203
League:NBA
Team:Miami Heat
Number:12
Birth Date:30 December 1997
Birth Place:Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
High School:FJ Reitz
(Evansville, Indiana)
College:
Draftyear:2021
Career Start:2021
Years1:20212023
Team1:Sioux Falls Skyforce
Team2:Miami Heat
Team3:Brooklyn Nets
Years4:2023
Team4:Long Island Nets
Years5:–present
Team5:Miami Heat
Years6:2024–present
Team6:→Sioux Falls Skyforce
Highlights:
  • First-team All-SEC – Coaches (2021)
  • Second-team All-SEC – AP (2021)
  • SEC All-Defensive Team (2021)
  • MVC Most Improved Team (2018)
  • MVC All-Freshman Team (2017)

Dru Smith (born December 30, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Evansville Purple Aces and the Missouri Tigers.

High school career

Smith attended FJ Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. In his junior season he averaged 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a starting point guard alongside Jaelan Sanford and Alex Stein. Smith helped his team achieve a 29–2 record and reach the Class 4A state title game.[1] As a senior, he averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, seven rebounds and 4.1 steals per game, leading Reitz to a 22–5 record and the Class 4A regional finals. Smith was named to the Indiana All-Star team.[2] He committed to playing college basketball for Evansville over offers from Ball State, Northern Kentucky, South Alabama and Indiana State.[3] Smith was drawn to the school because it was close to home.[4]

College career

Evansville

On February 22, 2017, Smith scored a freshman season-high 19 points for Evansville, making five three-pointers, in a 109–83 loss to Wichita State.[5] As a freshman, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, earning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Freshman Team honors.[6] On December 5, 2017, Smith recorded a sophomore season-high 25 points, shooting 11-of-13 from the field, seven assists and four steals in a 91–76 win over Bowling Green.[7] As a sophomore, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.6 assists and two steals per game, leading the MVC with a 48.2 three-point field goal percentage.[8] He was named to the MVC Most Improved Team.[1]

Missouri

After his sophomore season, Smith transferred to Missouri over offers from Xavier and Virginia Tech.[9] He sat out the following season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.[1] On November 12, 2019, he posted his first career double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 63–58 overtime loss to Xavier.[10] On February 15, 2020, he scored a junior season-high 28 points in an 85–73 victory over 11th-ranked Auburn.[11] As a junior, Smith averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He recorded 64 steals, which led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and ranked sixth in program history.[12] As a senior, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.[13]

Professional career

Miami Heat / Sioux Falls Skyforce (2021–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Smith joined the Miami Heat for the 2021 NBA Summer League[14] [15] and on September 10, he signed a contract with the Heat.[16] He was waived prior to the start of the season and joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate player.[17] On February 1, 2022, Smith was waived after being ruled out for the season with a knee injury.[18]

On October 13, 2022, Smith was signed to a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.[19] He was waived by the Heat on November 13, and subsequently re-joined the Skyforce.[20] On November 25, 2022, Smith was re-signed to a two-way contract with the Heat[21] and subsequently waived on December 11, and re-joined the Skyforce two days later.[22]

Brooklyn Nets (2023)

On January 13, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets.[23]

Return to Miami (2023–present)

On July 1, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat[24] and on October 21, his deal was converted into a standard contract.[25]

On November 24, 2023, it was announced that Smith would miss the remainder of the 2023–24 NBA season due to an ACL injury sustained during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 22. The head coach of the Heat, Erik Spoelstra, blamed the court design at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for the incident.[26] On March 6, 2024, he was waived by the Heat.[27]

On July 1, 2024, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Heat.[28]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Miami| 5 || 1 || 13.4 || .357 || .167 || || 1.8 || 1.0 || .8 || .6 || 2.2|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn| 10 || 0 || 9.1 || .419 || .308 || 1.000 || 1.5 || 1.7 || .6 || .1 || 3.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Miami| 9 || 0 || 14.5 || .455 || .412 || 1.000 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 4.3|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 24 || 1 || 12.1 || .423 || .333 || 1.000 || 1.6 || 1.5 || .8 || .3 || 3.5

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2016–17| style="text-align:left;"|Evansville| 28 || 8 || 22.5 || .445 || .327 || .818 || 2.6 || 2.9 || .8 || .4 || 5.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|2017–18| style="text-align:left;"|Evansville| 22 || 22 || 30.2 || .578 || .482 || .862 || 3.5 || 4.6 || 2.0 || .5 || 13.7|-| style="text-align:left;"|2018–19| style="text-align:left;"|Missouri| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Redshirt|-| style="text-align:left;"|2019–20| style="text-align:left;"|Missouri| 31 || 31 || 32.8 || .412 || .294 || .899 || 4.2 || 3.9 || 2.1 || .4 || 12.7|-| style="text-align:left;"|2020–21| style="text-align:left;"|Missouri| 26 || 26 || 34.1 || .442 || .398 || .833 || 3.5 || 3.8 || 2.1 || .3 || 14.3|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 107 || 87 || 29.9 || .459 || .373 || .865 || 3.5 || 3.8 || 1.7 || .4 || 11.4

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Napier . Briar . The "hidden jewel" of Evansville: Dru Smith thriving after leaving only home he ever knew . . November 13, 2020 . February 13, 2020.
  2. Web site: Neddenriep . Kyle . Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Evansville Reitz basketball team . . November 13, 2020 . April 5, 2020.
  3. Web site: Hickey . Pat . Former Evansville guard Dru Smith commits to Missouri basketball . . November 13, 2020 . April 27, 2018.
  4. Web site: Allar . Daniel . Simmons: Reitz's Smith "a great fit" for UE . . November 13, 2020 . November 12, 2015.
  5. Web site: Dru Smith Has Career Game Against Wichita State . City-County Observer . November 13, 2020 . February 22, 2017.
  6. Web site: Hickey . Pat . Simmons: Dru Smith has made 'huge' gains after solid freshman season for UE basketball . . November 13, 2020 . October 4, 2017.
  7. Web site: Smith has career-high 25, Evansville beats Bowling Green . . . November 13, 2020 . December 5, 2017.
  8. Web site: Moore . CJ . The path to a resurgent Missouri begins with Dru Smith . . November 14, 2020 . July 2, 2019.
  9. Web site: Schiffer . Alex . Connection to Mizzou assistant helped land Evansville transfer Dru Smith . . November 14, 2020 . April 29, 2018.
  10. News: No. 21 Xavier rallies past Missouri 63-58 in overtime . November 14, 2020 . . . November 12, 2019.
  11. Web site: Walljasper . Joe . Dru Smith, Pinson each score 28 points as Mizzou upsets No. 11 Auburn 85-73 . . . November 14, 2020 . February 15, 2020.
  12. Web site: Hollins . Tyler . Dru Smith named to preseason All-SEC second team . . November 14, 2020 . November 12, 2020 . November 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035516/https://www.lebanondemocrat.com/sports/national/dru-smith-named-to-preseason-all-sec-second-team/article_67dccad3-dbd5-5ae0-8109-28bdb7ea5a3c.html . dead .
  13. News: Heat's Dru Smith: Joins Heat's summer team . September 2, 2021 . . July 30, 2021.
  14. Web site: Beguiristain . Joe . August 1, 2021 . 2021 Miami HEAT Summer League Roster . September 11, 2021 . NBA.com.
  15. News: Anthony. Kristensen. Smith, Tilmon playing in NBA Summer League. Columbia Missourian. August 11, 2021. September 2, 2021.
  16. Web site: Moorhead . Couper . September 10, 2021 . HEAT SIGNS POTTER, SMART AND SMITH . September 11, 2021 . NBA.com.
  17. News: Engelhardt . Gordon . Reitz graduate Dru Smith waived by Miami Heat, appears headed to NBA G League . October 27, 2021 . . October 19, 2021.
  18. Web site: SKYFORCE ACQUIRES CHANDLER HUTCHISON . NBA.com . February 1, 2022 . February 1, 2022.
  19. Web site: HEAT CONVERT DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT . NBA.com . October 13, 2022. October 14, 2022.
  20. Web site: Heat Sign Orlando Robinson to Two-Way Contract . NBA . November 14, 2022 . November 13, 2022.
  21. Web site: HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT . NBA.com . November 25, 2022. November 25, 2022.
  22. 1601987170935480320. MiamiHEAT. OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have signed Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract and have waived Dru Smith.. Miami HEAT. December 11, 2022. December 11, 2022.
  23. Web site: Brooklyn Nets Sign Dru Smith . NBA.com . January 14, 2023 . January 13, 2023.
  24. Web site: HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT. NBA.com. July 1, 2023. July 1, 2023.
  25. Web site: HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO STANDARD CONTRACT. NBA.com. October 21, 2023. October 21, 2023.
  26. Web site: Shandel. Richardson. Miami Heat's Dru Smith Out For Season Due To Knee Injury. Sports Illustrated. November 24, 2023. November 29, 2023.
  27. Web site: HEAT SIGN PATTY MILLS. NBA.com. March 6, 2024. March 7, 2024.
  28. Web site: HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT. NBA.com. July 1, 2024. July 1, 2024.