Malachi Smith: 2023 Draft Prospect

Height: 6-4
Weight: 205
Position: G
College: Gonzaga
Age: 23

2022-23 Season Stats
PPG: 8.7
RPG: 3.6
APG: 1.4
BLK: 0.0
STL: 0.9

Player Bio
Courtesy of Gonzaga Athletics

2023 West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year
2022 Lou Henson National Player of the Year (Mid-Major POTY)
2022 Southern Conference Player of the Year
2022 All-Southern Conference First Team (Media & Coaches)
2022 Southern Conference Most Outstanding Player
2022 Southern Conference All-Tournament Team
2022 CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 Team
2021 All-Southern Conference First Team (Media & Coaches)
2019 Horizon League All-Freshman Team (Wright State)

2022-23
Selected as the WCC Sixth Man of the Year… Named to the Jerry West Preseason Watch List… Shot 50.0 percent from three this season, which led the Zags and was the second-highest three point percentage in the WCC… Averaged a three point percentage of 55.6 percent across four NCAA Tournament games this year, including when he earned the second-highest single-game three point percentage in Gonzaga history by shooting 75.0 percent against TCU… Logged 775 total minutes this season, and averaged 20.9 minutes per game on the year… Led the Gonzaga backcourt in total rebounds, with 136, and rebounds per game, with 3.7, this year… Averaged the least personal fouls per game, with 1.1 personal fouls per game, for all Gonzaga players who saw consistent action… Scored a season-high 27 points, including a career-high seven made threes, against Portland… Earned a double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds, against Eastern Oregon… Tied his career-high in blocks against Michigan State.

2021-22
- Appeared and started in all 35 games... all at the point position... averaged a team-high 35.4 minutes per contest... three games with 40 or minutes on the floor... finished first in the Southern Conference in total minutes played (1,240)... second in minutes per game...
- Led the team and the Southern Conference with a 19.9 points per game average... tied for 20th in NCAA Division I... finished with 1,115 career points at UTC... most in the first two years of a career in program history... second on the team with a 6.7 rebounds per game average.
- Scored 696 total points which ranked second in program history (first in DI era - since 1977-78) and 10th in NCAA Division I... just the seventh 600+ point season all-time at UTC... ranked eighth in NCAA DI in total field goals made (247).
- Only player in NCAA Division I basketball that posted at least 600 points, 200 rebounds, 50 assists, 50 steals and 50 3PT FG made during the 2021-22 season... ended the regular season as one of only eight players in NCAA DI with a 50% FG, 40% 3PT FG and 80% FT stat line.
- Scored in double figures in 32 of the 35 games during the season... 19 games with 20 or more points... two games with 30 or more... career-high 36 points (14-of-17 FG, six rebounds) at Murray State on December 12, 2021... posted 33 points (7-of-17 FG, nine rebounds & three steals) at Western Carolina on January 12, 2022.
- Finished the season with three point-rebound double-doubles... 21 points and 13 rebounds against MTSU on December 22, 2021... 28 points and 10 boards against VMI on February 19, 2022... 25 points and 11 rebounds against Wofford in Southern Conference Tournament semifinals on March 6, 2022.
- Went for 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in Southern Confernce Tournament title game against Furman on March 7, 2022.
- Nailed a buzzer-beating shot on the road at perennial mid-major power VCU on November 20, 2021 to give Chattanooga a 56-54 victory and improve the team's record to 4-0... finished the game with 20 points (7-of-12 FG) and five rebounds.
- Finished the season with two or more rebounds in all 35 games... posted eight or more rebounds in six of the final seven games of the season... six or more boards in nine of the final 11... ranked
- Recorded three or more steals in 11 games... two or more in 19 contests... had a six-straight game stretch with multiple steals running from January 5 through January 22, 2022... capped off with career-high six steals against VMI on January 22, 2022... finished 53rd in NCAA Division I with 53 total steals.
- Connected on at least one 3PT FG in 30 of the 35 games... 18 games with two or more threes... season-high five threes (5-of-8) in win at Wofford on January 5, 2022... finished sixth in the Southern Conference in 3PT FG% (40.7%).
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll

2020-21
- 25 games played, all in the starting lineup…team leader in points (16.8), rebounds (8.8), assists (3.3) and total steals (37).
- First team All-SoCon.
- First Moc to lead the program in points, rebounds and assists in a season.
- Recorded nine double-doubles…had the 5th double-double debut by a Moc in the DI era with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Lander...one of only 10 Mocs over that same span to have a streak of three or longer (Dec. 7-12)...had seven in his first nine games.
- Six games with 20 or more points…high was 29 at Tennessee State.
- 10 contests with double-digit rebounds…high of 14 at Tennessee Tech…13 in wins at Middle Tennessee and Tennessee State as well as home vs. North Georgia.
- Shot 46.0 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 80.2 percent at the free throw line…16 games with six or more FG made with a high of nine at Tennessee State and Western Carolina…10 with multiple threes making a high of five at Mercer…seven contests with five or more FT made with 10 at Tennessee State as best…two 7-7 performances at Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee.
- Two streaks of double-digit consecutive free throws made with 11 (Dec. 7-12) and 12 (Jan. 2-13).
- Six games with five or more assists…high of seven in the win at Wofford.
- 10 contests with multiple steals…high of five in wins at Tennessee Tech and Western Carolina while making four in the home OT triumph over the Catamounts.
- 10-5-5 day (18P/10R/5A) against Lander was the first by a Moc in an opener since Rodney Chatman at Wyoming in 2017...one of two all-time in a debut with the other coming from 1993 SoCon Player of the Year Tim Brooks who started with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in an 85-73 triumph at Mississippi State in 1991.
- SoCon Player of the Week (Dec. 22)...SoCon Player of the Month (Dec.)...College Sports Madness National Mid-Major Player of the Week (Dec. 14).
- Averaged double-double over first two-plus months of the season...longest stretch by a Moc since Z. Mason '14 posted 18.8 ppg and 10.3 rpg over the last 25 contests of 2013-14 campaign.
- 29-point, 13-rebound performance at Tennessee State included 15 points & five boards leading the comeback from 13 down (54-41) with 9:45 to play.
- Dean's List and A.D. Honor Roll student…Academic All-SoCon.

2019-20
- 4-year transfer from Wright State joining program in June 2019 with three years eligibility remaining.
- Sat out due to NCAA transfer regulations.

WRIGHT STATE
- Played one season earning Horizon League All-Freshman honors.
- Came off the bench in all 35 games averaging 5.4 points, 2.9 assists and 1.7 assists in 15.1 minutes per game...shot 43.5 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from 3pt range and 82.0 percent at the FT line.
- Horizon Freshman of the Week after career highs of 17 points and nine rebounds led to road win at Youngstown State (1/17/19).
- Scored in double figure in first career collegiate outing with 10 points and three steals in win over SoCon member Western Carolina…10 or more points on seven occasions.
- Seven games with multiple steals…high of three came six times including at Youngstown State, Green Bay, Oakland, Youngstown State and at Milwaukee as well as WCU mentioned before.
- Five or more boards nine times with the aforementioned high of nine.
- Made 50 of 61 free throws finishing second on the squad in percentage (82.0%)…made 18 in row from Dec. 22-Feb. 3...made 36 of 39 (92.3%) over a near 20-game stretch.

HIGH SCHOOL
- Played for Joe Muniz at Belleville West…second team All-State and first team All-Conference leading the Maroons to the 2018 Illinois 4A State Championship.
- Averaged 15.5 points per game as a senior…team went 32-2…first team outside Chicagoland area to win the large-school state title since Peoria in 2004 led by future 3-time NBA Champion Shaun Livingston.
- Posted 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game as a junior at Belleville East...shot 49 percent from the floor including 35 percent beyond the arc…added an 82-percent clip at the free throw stripe for the Lancers.