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Shooting guard Shawn Smith transfers to USF

 
Published March 27, 2015

TAMPA — A day after confirming the departure of point guard Anthony Collins and low-post reserve Dre Clayton, USF announced Thursday that well-traveled shooting guard Shawn Smith transferred into the program.

A Jacksonville native, Smith (6 feet 4, 205 pounds) spent the 2013-14 season at Texas A&M before transferring to Lee College, averaging 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the junior college program on Houston's outskirts. He can play right away for the Bulls and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"Shawn is a physical guard who can play both the point and shooting guard positions," Bulls coach Orlando Antigua said in a USF news release. "He will give us a quick and athletic body with a lot of experience."

Smith's vagabond prep career included a stop at Brandon's Faith Baptist Academy. Deemed a four-star prospect by ESPN, he made nonbinding commitments to UCF and Missouri before signing with Texas A&M.

Price introduced: Mark Price doesn't have much college coaching experience, but the former four-time NBA All-Star is confident the knowledge he has gained from playing and coaching in the league will translate to success at his new job as Charlotte coach. "As I told coach (Bobby) Cremins almost 30 years ago when he took a chance on a 5-foot-11, 155-pound guard to come play in the ACC (at Georgia Tech), it was a decision he wasn't going to regret. And I don't think he does, and I don't think you will either," said Price, 51. He was an NBA assistant coach for seven years, the last two with the Hornets. His only experience at the college level came in the 1999-2000 season when he was an assistant on Cremins' Yellow Jackets staff. "He always wanted to be a head coach,'' said Cremins, who attended the news conference. "It will be a challenge for him, but he's up to it.'' Charlotte was 14-18 last season, hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2005 and hasn't won a tournament game since 2001.

Dayton: Coach Archie Miller had three years added to his contract, through 2021-22, after a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Miller is 90-47 in four seasons.

Iona: Tim Cluess, who has led the Gaels to 118-54 record and two NCAA Tournaments in five seasons, had his contract extended through 2019-20.

UNLV: The state Board of Regents approved a five-year contract worth $2 million for new coach Eric Musselman.

Virginia Tech: Leading scorer Adam Smith will graduate in May and transfer for his final season. The guard said another school might more closely align with his goals.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.