Malachi Smith
Jersey: 13 Position: G
Age: 24 Height: 6-2 Weight: 205
Hometown: Belleville, Illinois, United States
Birthdate: Dec. 6, 1999
Bio: As one of the country’s most coveted transfers, ex-Chattanooga and Wright State guard chose Gonzaga after removing his name from the NBA Draft. In final season at Chattanooga, averaged 19.9 points – tied for 20th among Division I players – and ranked second on the team with 6.7 rebounds per game. Three years after earning 2019 Horizon League All-Freshman honors at Wright State, Smith was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year and won the 2022 Lou Henson award, given to the nation’s top mid-major player. Illinois native was the only player in Division I with 600 points, 200 rebounds, 50 assists, 50 steals and 50 3-point field goals made during the 2021-22 season.
Jr Scouting report: Expected to make immediate contributions to what some think could be a historically deep Gonzaga backcourt. Polished scorer shouldn’t have as much of an offensive load on his shoulders playing alongside fellow 1,000-point career scorers Drew Timme and Rasir Bolton. Can play at the point guard spot or off the ball and should be one of the West Coast Conference’s top perimeter shooters, making 40% of his shots behind the arc last season and 38% in 2020-21.