Tim Smith (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Tim Smith is an American professional basketball player for BSC Raiffeisen Panthers Fürstenfeld in Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga
(the Austrian Basketball League) who plays the point guard
position. Smith played collegiately at East Tennessee State University
from 2002–03
to 2005–06
before becoming a professional.
. As a freshman
in 2002–03 he scored 475 points, recorded 114 assists and also accumulated 73 steals. He was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year while guiding ETSU as runners-up in the conference's North Division. The Buccaneers also won the 2003 Southern Conference Tournament and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament
, but lost to Wake Forest
, 76 to 73, in the first round.
As a sophomore
in 2003–04
, Smith once again led ETSU to a successful season. He reached the career 1,000-point mark after finishing the year with 565 points, and he also recorded 145 assists and 82 steals. ETSU were Southern Conference regular season and tournament champions, but once again lost in the NCAA Tournament's first round by three points. Cincinnati
defeated the Buccaneers, 80 to 77. For the second consecutive season, however, Smith was named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament First Team. He also led the team in scoring at 17.7 points per game and was named a First Team All-Conference honoree.
In 2004–05
, Smith's junior
year, he repeated as a Southern Conference First Team selection after recording 645 points, 123 assists and 62 steals. The Buccaneers struggled despite his 22.2 points per game average and only finished with a 10–19 overall record.
East Tennessee State University moved to the Atlantic Sun Conference
between his junior and senior seasons. As a senior
in 2005–06
, Smith solidified his name in both the ETSU and NCAA record books. In 28 games he recorded 95 steals, good for a 3.39 steals per game average that led NCAA Division I. His 22.0 points per game average led ETSU for a third straight season, and his 615 points scored that season brought his career total to exactly 2,300, the most in school history. Smith's 313 career steals is second in ETSU history to Keith Jennings' 334, but is still in the top 25 all-time in NCAA Division I competition. Smith was honored as the Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
in 2006 as well.
so he took his game abroad to play professionally. In his first season he played for Etha Engomis
in Cyprus Basketball Division 1
. He started all 10 games that he played in, but was then waived and signed with Al Jeish Army in Syria
. However, he never appeared in a game for this club. The following year (2007–08) Smith signed with Gothia Basket
in the Swedish Basketball League. In 11 games played, all of which he started, he averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
His best season in his relatively young professional career, however, occurred in 2008–09 as a member of Ciudad de Vigo Básquet
in Spain
's Liga Española de Baloncesto
. Smith started all 30 games, averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals en route to being named to the Eurobasket.com Spanish LEB Silver All-Defensive Team. He helped the team move up to the LEB Gold Division for the 2009–10, of which he played for them again. Smith signed a contract to play for BSC Raiffeisen Panthers Fürstenfeld in Austria
for the 2010–11 season.
Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga
The Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga is the top men's professional basketball league in Austria. Until the 2004–05 season, the league was known as the A-Liga and then until the 2008–09 season it was called the Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga...
(the Austrian Basketball League) who plays the point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
position. Smith played collegiately at East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
from 2002–03
2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2002, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 7, 2003 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans,...
to 2005–06
2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 6, 2005, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana...
before becoming a professional.
College
When Tim Smith entered college in 2002, ETSU was still a member of the Southern ConferenceSouthern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. As a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
in 2002–03 he scored 475 points, recorded 114 assists and also accumulated 73 steals. He was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year while guiding ETSU as runners-up in the conference's North Division. The Buccaneers also won the 2003 Southern Conference Tournament and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, but lost to Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and their homecourt is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Their only Final Four appearance was in 1962 and through the years they have produced several NBA players. The Demon Deacons have...
, 76 to 73, in the first round.
As a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 2003–04
2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2003, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 5, 2004 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas...
, Smith once again led ETSU to a successful season. He reached the career 1,000-point mark after finishing the year with 565 points, and he also recorded 145 assists and 82 steals. ETSU were Southern Conference regular season and tournament champions, but once again lost in the NCAA Tournament's first round by three points. Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball
The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. They currently compete in the Big East Conference and are coached by Mick Cronin. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in...
defeated the Buccaneers, 80 to 77. For the second consecutive season, however, Smith was named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament First Team. He also led the team in scoring at 17.7 points per game and was named a First Team All-Conference honoree.
In 2004–05
2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2004, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2005 at the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis,...
, Smith's junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, he repeated as a Southern Conference First Team selection after recording 645 points, 123 assists and 62 steals. The Buccaneers struggled despite his 22.2 points per game average and only finished with a 10–19 overall record.
East Tennessee State University moved to the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
between his junior and senior seasons. As a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 2005–06
2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 6, 2005, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, Smith solidified his name in both the ETSU and NCAA record books. In 28 games he recorded 95 steals, good for a 3.39 steals per game average that led NCAA Division I. His 22.0 points per game average led ETSU for a third straight season, and his 615 points scored that season brought his career total to exactly 2,300, the most in school history. Smith's 313 career steals is second in ETSU history to Keith Jennings' 334, but is still in the top 25 all-time in NCAA Division I competition. Smith was honored as the Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given to the Atlantic Sun Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1978–79 season, the first year of the A–Sun's existence, when it was still known as the Trans America...
in 2006 as well.
Professional
Smith did not get selected in the 2006 NBA Draft2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
so he took his game abroad to play professionally. In his first season he played for Etha Engomis
ETHA Engomis
ETHA Engomis , is a Cypriot professional basketball club based in Engomi, Cyprus. The club competes in the Cypriot League and in the EuroChallenge.-History:...
in Cyprus Basketball Division 1
Cyprus Basketball Division 1
The Cypriot First Division A of the Men’s Basketball League is currently the top competition on the Cyprus Basketball calendar. It is run and governed by the Cyprus Basketball Federation...
. He started all 10 games that he played in, but was then waived and signed with Al Jeish Army in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. However, he never appeared in a game for this club. The following year (2007–08) Smith signed with Gothia Basket
Gothia Basket
Gothia Basket is a Swedish basketball club playing in Gothenburg, they play currently in ligan- Roster 2009-2010 :- External links :**...
in the Swedish Basketball League. In 11 games played, all of which he started, he averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
His best season in his relatively young professional career, however, occurred in 2008–09 as a member of Ciudad de Vigo Básquet
Ciudad de Vigo Básquet
Ciudad de Vigo Básquet, more commonly referred to today by its sponsorship name of KICS Ciudad de Vigo, is a professional Basketball team based in Vigo, Galicia. After the 2009-10 season, the team was dissolved.-Season by season:-External links:*...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Liga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
. Smith started all 30 games, averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals en route to being named to the Eurobasket.com Spanish LEB Silver All-Defensive Team. He helped the team move up to the LEB Gold Division for the 2009–10, of which he played for them again. Smith signed a contract to play for BSC Raiffeisen Panthers Fürstenfeld in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
for the 2010–11 season.