Donta Smith
Encyclopedia
Donta Lamont Smith is an American
professional basketball
player who formerly played in the NBA and Australia
n National Basketball League
.
Smith played his high school ball at Oldham County High School (Buckner, KY), where he was a standout forward on the high school team and record-setting wide receiver on the football team. He also played on the Kentucky (high school) All-Stars in their annual two-game series against the Indiana All-Stars. After two years of junior college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, Smith was rated as one of the top JUCO prospects and committed to play ball for Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville. But he backed out of the commitment and entered the 2004 NBA draft instead.
Smith was taken by the Atlanta Hawks
in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft
after playing college basketball
at Southeastern Illinois College
and has averaged 3.3 points per game for the Hawks during his career.
In January 2007, Smith signed a one-month contract with Bulgaria
n champions Academic Sofia
, which could possibly be extended to five months. On December 24, 2008, Smith was signed by the Australia
n National Basketball League
's South Dragons
. He had previously been with the Chinese Basketball Association
's Shanxi Zhongyu but was waived to make roster space available for Bonzi Wells
.
In 2009, Smith went on to win the 2008/09 NBL Championship with the South Dragons
, and was named Finals MVP after starring for the team in the 5-game series. After one season with the South Dragons
, Smith would return to the Shanxi Zhongyu for the 2009-2010 season. In December 2010 he signed with the Liaoning Dinosaurs.
In 2011, Smith signed with Fuerza Regia
in Mexico.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who formerly played in the NBA and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
.
Smith played his high school ball at Oldham County High School (Buckner, KY), where he was a standout forward on the high school team and record-setting wide receiver on the football team. He also played on the Kentucky (high school) All-Stars in their annual two-game series against the Indiana All-Stars. After two years of junior college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, Smith was rated as one of the top JUCO prospects and committed to play ball for Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville. But he backed out of the commitment and entered the 2004 NBA draft instead.
Smith was taken by the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft
2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
after playing college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Southeastern Illinois College
Southeastern Illinois College
Southeastern Illinois College is a public community college located in Harrisburg, Illinois, United States. The college was founded in 1960 and offers Associate degrees. There is a secondary campus, the David L...
and has averaged 3.3 points per game for the Hawks during his career.
In January 2007, Smith signed a one-month contract with Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n champions Academic Sofia
PBC Lukoil Academic
PBC Lukoil Academic are a Bulgarian professional basketball club based in the capital Sofia. They play their home games at the Universiade Hall or at the Pravets sports complex....
, which could possibly be extended to five months. On December 24, 2008, Smith was signed by the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
's South Dragons
South Dragons
The South Dragons is a former team in the Australasian National Basketball League . They made their début in the 2006/07 season and played their final season in 2008/09...
. He had previously been with the Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
's Shanxi Zhongyu but was waived to make roster space available for Bonzi Wells
Bonzi Wells
Gawen DeAngelo "Bonzi" Wells is an American professional basketball player. A 6' 5" shooting guard, he last played for Capitanes de Arecibo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, the main Puerto Rican basketball league. He played college basketball at Ball State University and was drafted in the...
.
In 2009, Smith went on to win the 2008/09 NBL Championship with the South Dragons
South Dragons
The South Dragons is a former team in the Australasian National Basketball League . They made their début in the 2006/07 season and played their final season in 2008/09...
, and was named Finals MVP after starring for the team in the 5-game series. After one season with the South Dragons
South Dragons
The South Dragons is a former team in the Australasian National Basketball League . They made their début in the 2006/07 season and played their final season in 2008/09...
, Smith would return to the Shanxi Zhongyu for the 2009-2010 season. In December 2010 he signed with the Liaoning Dinosaurs.
In 2011, Smith signed with Fuerza Regia
Fuerza Regia
The Fuerza Regia is a Mexican professional basketball team based in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico playing in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional...
in Mexico.