CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball added another player to its roster as Darius Smith joined the team at the winter break and will use this season as a redshirt.  Smith signed with Panthers in the spring following one season at the College of Southern Idaho and one season at the University of Connecticut. 

Smith is joining the Panthers following one season at the College of Southern Idaho where he helped lead his team to the Junior College National Championship with a 33-4 record. Smith (6'2”, 183 lbs.) started 32 games averaging 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He led the team in assists with 192 and steals with 111. He ranked 37th in the nation in assists per game at 5.3 and 9th in the nation in steals per game at 3.1.

“Darius has been a part of outstanding basketball programs over the past six years that have been very successful. His contributions have resulted in championships at all levels,” Miller said. “His versatility and skills will benefit us on both ends of the floor.  Darius joining our program at the winter break will allow him to learn our system as he redshirts this year.  He will immediately bring an increased level of competition to our practices.”

Smith is originally from Chicago where he played at Marshall High School helping lead the program to an IHSA Class 3A State Championship in 2008. He was a three-time All-City and All-State selection finishing his senior season averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals per game. As a senior he was rated the 71st best player in the nation and the 12th best guard in the country. He was a runner-up for Illinois Mr. Basketball.

Smith played his first collegiate season at Connecticut appearing in 19 games averaging one point per game. He transferred in the summer of 2010 to the College of Southern Idaho earning second team NJCAA All-Region 18 honors during his one season.