NCAA Basketball: 8 possible grad transfer candidates to watch for 2023
NCAA Basketball transfer candidate – Malachi Smith (Gonzaga Bulldogs)
2022-23 season stats: 8.7 ppg and 1.4 apg
As I mentioned in the Ben Sheppard section, Smith was a 20 ppg transfer from Chattanooga that was a former SoCon Player of the Year. He transferred to Gonzaga, where he had his share of ups and downs. He was named WCC 6th Man of the Year and shot a whopping 50% from three-point range.
Smith had a season-high 27 points on 7/10 shooting from deep in the blowout win over Portland, while also going for 14 points and nine rebounds versus Chicago. Although they weren’t huge games statistically, the senior guard looked like the best perimeter player in the backcourt for the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament.
The efficiency was great for Smith but did he improve his stock draft from this past season? He averaged just 21 mpg off the bench and with Gonzaga landing Creighton transfers Ryan Nembhard to pair with returning starter Nolan Hickman, he’s likely coming back for another 6th man role.
Realignment scenarios for each ACC team. dark. Next
That could very well be enough for Smith, who did make it to the Elite 8 at Gonzaga. But there are still plenty of programs that could use him as a potential starting point guard. And that includes Illinois (Smith is from Belleville, Illinois), who doesn’t have a veteran ball-handler currently on the roster. If he’s looking for a larger role, Smith could be a darkhorse candidate to leave.