America East Basketball: 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)
By Joey Loose
21. Stef Smith
A 6’2 guard from Canada, Smith arrived at Vermont in 2017, spending four seasons in the Catamounts’ backcourt before spending his bonus season at St. John’s as a part-time starter. Smith was never the focal point for the Catamounts but was certainly an important cog for some of their recently successful teams and certainly earned his place on this list.
A reserve as a freshman, Smith earned his place as a starting guard as a sophomore, averaging 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds on a team that would advance to the Big Dance. Smith actually scored a career-high 28 points in that year’s AEC Tournament against Binghamton. His offensive numbers were just as impressive in his junior and senior seasons, though he’d play just that one time in the NCAA Tournament. That junior season saw him rank 2nd in the America East in true shooting percentage and 8th in points.
Smith earned First Team All-America East honors for that aforementioned season, provided apt offense for a Catamounts team that would win the AEC Tournament right before the pandemic. He would earn All-America East honors again as a senior before departing for the Big East, putting together a decent season for the Red Storm under Mike Anderson. Those years at Vermont were certainly successful, and he’s one of a long line of great Catamounts in recent memory.