Feb 4, 2012; Laramie, WY, USA; UNLV Rebels guard Reggie Smith (5) drives against Wyoming Cowboys guard Riley Grabau (12) during the first half at the Arena Auditorium. The Cowboys defeated the Rebels 68-66. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-US PRESSWIRE
UNLV sophomore Reggie Smith has announced he is transferring for the second time in as many years. The reserve guard intends to find a school closer to his native Chicago so he can be near his ailing grandmother. If Smith is granted a hardship waiverâ€"as he plans to pursueâ€"he will not have to sit out the upcoming season, as most transfers must per NCAA policy.
A former top 150 recruit out of Thornton Township High School, Smith first enrolled at Marquette as a freshman before booking west to Vegas. Smith left the Badger State after playing in just eight gamesâ€"five of which he startedâ€"with the Golden Eagles, citing insufficient playing time as the reason for his departure.
In accord with NCAA rules, Smith sat out the Spring 2011 and Fall 2011 semesters in Las Vegas. He became eligible to play for the Runnin’ Rebels this past December, appearing in 20 games during the season, including the team’s opening round NCAA tournament loss to Colorado. Smith averaged just 2.5 point per game in limited playing time under first-year head coach Dave Rice.
Smith’s stated reason for transferringâ€"tending to a sick family memberâ€"is certainly legitimate. But there may be more to this transfer than the Chicago native simply wanting to be closer to grandma. Smith has transferred once before because of a perceived lack of playing time, and it’s no stretch to think the 6.1 minutes per game he averaged with the Runnin’ Rebels last season pushed him harder out the door.
With Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins back in the fold for next season, and highly coveted recruit Katin Reinhardt (SG) on his way to Vegas this fall, Smith looked to be out of the picture again for the upcoming season. The Runnin’ Rebels will already be without sharpshooter Mike Moser, who was lost to graduation. But Coach Rice appears more committed to the smooth shooting Reinhardt than the vagabond Smith.
DePaul is a logical fit for Smith, who is pursuing a Chicago-based school with immediate playing time available at the guard position. Outside of Brandon Young, the sophomore sensation who teamed up with Cleveland Melvin to form a dynamic one-two punch for the Blue Demons last season, competition is light for DePaul at the wing. Charles McKinney got some burn as a freshman, and head coach Oliver Purnell will lean on rising senior Worrel Clahar for major minutes next season as well. But Smith, who is the best talent of the three, has a viable shot to beat out both for the starting shooting guard vacancy.
Southern Illinois and Chicago State are also potential landing spots for Smith, both offering immediate playing time and a campus close to Smith’s home. With Bruce Weber’s firing at Illinois, compounded by a logjam at the guard position (Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson each return, and talented point guard Tracy Abrams figures to play a bigger role with the team as a rising sophomore next season), the Illini do not appear to be a realistic suitor for Smith. Illinois’ recruiting cupboard for the class of 2012 is currently empty. Expect it to stay that way as Smith chooses between DePaul, Southern Illinois and Chicago State.
Tags: DePaul, Illinois, Marquette, reggie, smith, transfer, UNLV
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