America East Basketball: 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

24. Jaleen Smith

Originally from Freeport, Texas, Smith is a 6’4 combo guard who spent four seasons at New Hampshire, arriving on campus back in 2013 and spending his entire playing career with the Wildcats. He started 104 of the 122 games he played at New Hampshire and was an important piece; a full-time starter on three teams that finished above .500.

Smith put up moderate numbers as a part-time starter as a freshman but started to come into his own later in his career. He was already averaging double-digit points per game as a sophomore while ranking among the league leaders in assists in each of his final three campaigns. Though he did lead the America East in free throw percentage as a junior, his senior year was his most successful. That year saw him average 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, helping lead New Hampshire to a 20-win season.

Twice named Second Team All-America East, Smith developed into his role as a reliable backcourt weapon. He was part of a slew of New Hampshire teams that were among the nation’s best at rebounding, especially on the defensive end. He was a significant weapon on both sides of the ball, especially later in his career, and played an important role in the most recent success for this New Hampshire program, even if the program couldn’t get over the top.