Gonzaga Basketball: 4 current potential targets in transfer portal

Malachi Smith

Junior, Guard, Chattanooga

19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3 assists

This one is a bit of a prayer. A whisper into the ether. A player that is the ultimate ask for a team that may be losing up to 76% of its scoring from a season ago. Malachi Smith is an absolute bucket. He had a 54% effective field goal rate while attempting 501 shots last season. He shot 40% from three on 139 attempts.

Smith works on multiple levels, he’s a clear addition in scoring and ballhandling but could be dynamic off of the ball in Gonzaga’s system. His efficiency with Chattanooga suggests that he doesn’t need to have incredibly high usage to get his points, but would be the dependable three-point shooting the Zags would lack without Bolton and Holmgren.

The 6-foot-4 guard is a solid enough defender with size that you can continue to run out a backcourt with Hickman as your smallest player and continue to rack up points in transition with lethal speed. Smith could benefit from Gonzaga’s ball movement and showcase his ability to score in the fastbreak at even a higher level. A fifth of Smith’s attempts came in transition and nearly a third of his three-point attempts came in these opportunities. Bolton made a killing as the trailing three-point shooter for the Zags, something that Smith could instantly plug in as.

Smith struggled in the tournament as he had to be the do-everything guard and get his shot off against a bigger and more athletic Illinois. The personnel around him just couldn’t create consistently for themselves. Smith went 4 for 20 and was able to only attempt three shots from outside. Getting Smith open against better competition will not only make him more dangerous but increase his prospects to play professionally.