Smith Jr Picks Central Connecticut State
Vermont Academy wing Darin Smith Jr announced his commitment yesterday to Central Connecticut State.
Before coming to the NEPSAC, Smith Jr played for Springfield Central. He was a part of a team his freshman year which went 22-1 and made it to the 2020 MIAA Division One State Finals.
After losing his sophomore season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Smith Jr chose to attend VA beginning in the fall of 2021. He made a smooth adjustment to the elevated competition in Class AAA, averaging 11 points and 5 rebounds. His play also earned him ALL-NEPSAC Honorable Mention honors.
As a result of an injury that required surgery, Smith Jr missed the start of his senior campaign. He made his season debut at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic and was able to be an integral part of an 18 win Wildcats squad, shooting 42% from long-range.
Smith Jr spent time on the AAU circuit for NE6 and BABC.
“Darin played a huge role in creating our standards for how hard we work as a program,” said VA head coach John Zall. “He is always in the gym working on his game and getting shots up. When he got hurt and missed the entire summer and fall, he just put his head down and continued to get stronger.”
“He was a two-year starter on a team that doubled their win total from his first to second year. Darin also scored 500 points and had 200 rebounds in his two seasons. CCSU is the perfect place for him. They are an emerging program that likes to take overlooked high school kids and develop them. We cannot wait to watch his success there.”
Smith Jr becomes the third member of VA’s 2023 class who has committed to play college basketball next season.