NCAA Basketball: 10 teams that should target Chattanooga transfer Malachi Smith

Just when the NCAA Basketball transfer portal appears to be taking a deep breath, it finds a way to get the heart racing again. One recent big addition to the transfer portal was Chattanooga’s Malachi Smith.

The 6-foot-4 guard was one of the best mid-major players a season ago, when he averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game for the Mocs, earning Southern Conference Player of the Year honors. He also hit 40.7 percent of his three-point attempts.

Smith is no flash in the pan. The year before, Smith averaged 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. In 2020-21, Smith was a first-team All-SoCon selection.

The next destination for Smith will be the third of his collegiate career. The guard started at Wright State before making his way to Chattanooga. It could be time for him to make the leap to a major conference school.

Once Lamont Paris departed from Chattanooga to South Carolina, it felt like a matter of time before Smith would consider his own departure. He should immediately rise to the top of the transfer portal target list for anyone in need of a strong scoring guard.

Smith will also provide a steady veteran presence to whatever program he joins, having been there and done it all. He will turn 23 years old during the upcoming season, ancient by college basketball standards. Having the influence of that kind of veteran on the roster is impossible to quantify.

Virtually all teams in the country should be interested in Smith. Here are ten teams that should train their eyes on him quickly.