When it comes to building the University of Central Florida basketball program, head coach Johnny Dawkins is looking to the future. On Tuesday, the team announced the acquisition of center Collin Smith, a transfer from George Washington University. Per NCAA transfer rules, Smith will miss the 2017-18 season and will be eligible to play for the Knights in the 2018-19 season as a redshirt sophomore.
“We’re very excited to welcome Collin Smith to the UCF family,” Dawkins said, per the team’s press release. “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.”
As a freshman last season, Smith averaged 5.3 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game on 17.0 minutes per game in 35 games. In addition to shooting 46.7 percent from the field, the 6-foot-10 Jacksonville native shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc on 26 attempts.
One of those three-pointers was a game-winner against the University of South Florida that helped the Colonials to a 68-67 win. Smith finished 8-for-13 from the floor, 2-for-2 from three-point range and tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists and four steals in 36 minutes of action.
In the lone meeting between the Knights and Colonials last season, George Washington won 74-59. Smith recorded eight rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes.
UCF is coming off one of its most successful seasons in program history, its first under Dawkins. Last season, the Knights posted a 24-12 (11-7 in American Athletic Conference) record and advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 National Invitation Tournament, the furthest the team has advanced.
For more on Dawkins and his team’s offseason movements, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
