ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Head Coach Johnny Dawkins has announced an addition to the UCF men's basketball program, signing George Washington transfer Collin Smith. Smith will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and be eligible to play in 2018-19 as a redshirt sophomore.
Smith, who appeared in 34 games and started 17 at center for the Colonials as a freshman in 2016-17, will have three years of eligibility for the Knights. The Jacksonville native was third on the George Washington team in rebounding with 4.4 boards per game and second with 29 blocked shots.
"We're very excited to welcome Collin Smith to the UCF Family," Dawkins said. "We weren't certain we were going to add one more piece this year, but Collin was too good to pass up. He will be a versatile post presence for us in 2018-19, and will have a whole year of practice to get even better before his sophomore season as a Knight."
When the Knights went up to Washington, D.C. and fell to George Washington during B.J. Taylor's absence this past season, Smith started and led the Colonials with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 22 minutes.
The 6-foot-10 big man also had success against a yearly UCF opponent in his first season of collegiate ball, scoring a season high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and hitting the game-winning three-pointer at USF on Dec. 3 of 2016.
Smith had signed with George Washington out of Bolles High School in Jacksonville, where he led his squad to a 32-3 record and the Florida Class 4A State Championship. He averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while earning First Team All-State and 4A Player of the Year honors.
UCF, which signed three for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign back in November (Myles Douglas, Daniel Lewis, Kani Coles), will have a full roster of scholarship players this season after playing with just seven a year ago.
The Knights are coming off of one of their most successful seasons in program history in their first under Dawkins. UCF won 24 games, the second most ever by the Knights, and advanced all the way to the NIT Semifinals in New York City.
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