Dru Smith

Dru Smith
Smith with Missouri in 2020
No. 12 – Miami Heat
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-12-30) December 30, 1997 (age 27)
Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High schoolFJ Reitz
(Evansville, Indiana)
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2023Sioux Falls Skyforce
2022Miami Heat
2023Brooklyn Nets
2023→Long Island Nets
2023–presentMiami Heat
2024–present→Sioux Falls Skyforce
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-SEC – Coaches (2021)
  • Second-team All-SEC – AP (2021)
  • SEC All-Defensive Team (2021)
  • MVC Most Improved Team (2018)
  • MVC All-Freshman Team (2017)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Dru Smith (born December 30, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Evansville Purple Aces and the Missouri Tigers.

High school career

Smith attended FJ Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. In his junior season he averaged 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a starting point guard alongside Jaelan Sanford and Alex Stein. Smith helped his team achieve a 29–2 record and reach the Class 4A state title game.[1] As a senior, he averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, seven rebounds and 4.1 steals per game, leading Reitz to a 22–5 record and the Class 4A regional finals. Smith was named to the Indiana All-Star team.[2] He committed to playing college basketball for Evansville over offers from Ball State, Northern Kentucky, South Alabama and Indiana State.[3] Smith was drawn to the school because it was close to home.[4]

College career

Evansville

On February 22, 2017, Smith scored a freshman season-high 19 points for Evansville, making five three-pointers, in a 109–83 loss to Wichita State.[5] As a freshman, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, earning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Freshman Team honors.[6] On December 5, 2017, Smith recorded a sophomore season-high 25 points, shooting 11-of-13 from the field, seven assists and four steals in a 91–76 win over Bowling Green.[7] As a sophomore, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.6 assists and two steals per game, leading the MVC with a 48.2 three-point field goal percentage.[8] He was named to the MVC Most Improved Team.[1]

Missouri

After his sophomore season, Smith transferred to Missouri over offers from Xavier and Virginia Tech.[9] He sat out the following season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.[1] On November 12, 2019, he posted his first career double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 63–58 overtime loss to Xavier.[10] On February 15, 2020, he scored a junior season-high 28 points in an 85–73 victory over 11th-ranked Auburn.[11] As a junior, Smith averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He recorded 64 steals, which led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and ranked sixth in program history.[12] As a senior, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.[13]

Professional career

Miami Heat / Sioux Falls Skyforce (2021–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Smith joined the Miami Heat for the 2021 NBA Summer League[14][15] and on September 10, he signed a contract with the Heat.[16] He was waived prior to the start of the season and joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate player.[17] On February 1, 2022, Smith was waived after being ruled out for the season with a knee injury.[18]

On October 13, 2022, Smith was signed to a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.[19] He was waived by the Heat on November 13, and subsequently re-joined the Skyforce.[20] On November 25, 2022, Smith was re-signed to a two-way contract with the Heat[21] and subsequently waived on December 11, and re-joined the Skyforce two days later.[22]

Brooklyn Nets (2023)

On January 13, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets.[23]

Second stint with Heat (2023–present)

On July 1, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat[24] and on October 21, his deal was converted into a standard contract.[25]

On November 24, 2023, it was announced that Smith would miss the remainder of the 2023–24 NBA season due to an ACL injury sustained during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 22. The head coach of the Heat, Erik Spoelstra, blamed the court design at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for the incident.[26] On March 6, 2024, he was waived by the Heat.[27]

On July 1, 2024, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Heat.[28] He played in 15 games for Miami, averaging 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. On December 24, it was announced that Smith had suffered a season–ending torn Achilles tendon.[29]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Miami 5 1 13.4 .357 .167 — 1.8 1.0 .8 .6 2.2
Brooklyn 10 0 9.1 .419 .308 1.000 1.5 1.7 .6 .1 3.3
2023–24 Miami 9 0 14.5 .455 .412 1.000 1.6 1.6 1.0 .3 4.3
2024–25 Miami 14 1 19.1 .508 .533 .769 2.6 1.6 1.5 .4 6.3
Career 38 2 14.7 .460 .424 .833 1.9 1.6 1.1 .3 4.5

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Evansville 28 8 22.5 .445 .327 .818 2.6 2.9 .8 .4 5.3
2017–18 Evansville 22 22 30.2 .578 .482 .862 3.5 4.6 2.0 .5 13.7
2018–19 Missouri Redshirt Redshirt
2019–20 Missouri 31 31 32.8 .412 .294 .899 4.2 3.9 2.1 .4 12.7
2020–21 Missouri 26 26 34.1 .442 .398 .833 3.5 3.8 2.1 .3 14.3
Career 107 87 29.9 .459 .373 .865 3.5 3.8 1.7 .4 11.4

References

  1. ^ a b c Napier, Briar (February 13, 2020). "The "hidden jewel" of Evansville: Dru Smith thriving after leaving only home he ever knew". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Neddenriep, Kyle (April 5, 2020). "Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Evansville Reitz basketball team". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Hickey, Pat (April 27, 2018). "Former Evansville guard Dru Smith commits to Missouri basketball". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Allar, Daniel (November 12, 2015). "Simmons: Reitz's Smith "a great fit" for UE". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Dru Smith Has Career Game Against Wichita State". City-County Observer. February 22, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Hickey, Pat (October 4, 2017). "Simmons: Dru Smith has made 'huge' gains after solid freshman season for UE basketball". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Smith has career-high 25, Evansville beats Bowling Green". USA Today. Associated Press. December 5, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Moore, CJ (July 2, 2019). "The path to a resurgent Missouri begins with Dru Smith". The Athletic. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Schiffer, Alex (April 29, 2018). "Connection to Mizzou assistant helped land Evansville transfer Dru Smith". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "No. 21 Xavier rallies past Missouri 63-58 in overtime". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Walljasper, Joe (February 15, 2020). "Dru Smith, Pinson each score 28 points as Mizzou upsets No. 11 Auburn 85-73". Fox Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Hollins, Tyler (November 12, 2020). "Dru Smith named to preseason All-SEC second team". Lebanon Democrat. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Heat's Dru Smith: Joins Heat's summer team". CBS Sports. July 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Beguiristain, Joe (August 1, 2021). "2021 Miami HEAT Summer League Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  15. ^ Kristensen, Anthony (August 11, 2021). "Smith, Tilmon playing in NBA Summer League". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Moorhead, Couper (September 10, 2021). "HEAT SIGNS POTTER, SMART AND SMITH". NBA.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  17. ^ Engelhardt, Gordon (October 19, 2021). "Reitz graduate Dru Smith waived by Miami Heat, appears headed to NBA G League". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "SKYFORCE ACQUIRES CHANDLER HUTCHISON". NBA.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "HEAT CONVERT DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "Heat Sign Orlando Robinson to Two-Way Contract". NBA. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  22. ^ Miami HEAT [@MiamiHEAT] (December 11, 2022). "OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have signed Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract and have waived Dru Smith" (Tweet). Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Brooklyn Nets Sign Dru Smith". NBA.com. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  25. ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO STANDARD CONTRACT". NBA.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  26. ^ Richardson, Shandel (November 24, 2023). "Miami Heat's Dru Smith Out For Season Due To Knee Injury". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  27. ^ "HEAT SIGN PATTY MILLS". NBA.com. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  28. ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  29. ^ "Sources: Heat's Dru Smith has torn Achilles, done for season". espn.com. Retrieved December 25, 2024.