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Dru Smith article
Posted on: September 15, 2021 at 11:00:39 CT
FIJItiger MU
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https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/2021/09/14/nba-miami-heat-evansville-dru-smith-makes-training-camp-roster/8294573002/
Dru Smith isn’t unheralded anymore.
An Indiana All-Star out of Reitz High School, Smith wasn’t super highly recruited and landed with the University of Evansville. He left because Marty Simmons was fired, transferring to the University of Missouri. Skeptics questioned just how much he could contribute.
However, once he began showing his quick hands and Basketball IQ with the Tigers, the Columbia Missourian labeled him the “hidden jewel of Evansville.”
All he did was become a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last winter. Smith, a modestly sized 6-foot-3, 203-pound guard, joined the Heat’s NBA Summer League team. Even Smith doubted he would make the Heat’s roster entering fall training camp.
But that’s exactly what he did.
“It definitely means a lot to me to have made it this far, but I still feel like I have a ways to go,” Smith told the Courier & Press. “It’s been a great experience, so far, and hopefully it’s just the beginning."
Terms of his contract with the Heat were not disclosed, per club policy.
“It’s a lot to explain as far as the contract goes and everything, but what I signed is called an Exhibit 10,” Smith said. “But basically it’s a training camp invite and then we go from there.”
Smith averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field for the Heat in six Summer League games. He recorded multiple steals three times and scored in double-figures twice, first an 11-point effort against the Lakers on Aug. 3 and then a 10-point performance against Dallas on Aug. 17.
Smith and his wife, Marley, are in their third week in Miami. Fall training camp starts on Sept. 28.
“I’m just continuing to work out here in preparation for training camp,” he said.
He has used his long arms, anticipation and intelligence to adapt to NBA competition.
“I think I’m definitely getting more used to the speed of the game as time goes on and I’m around a lot more and I think that stuff just helps me by allowing me to make adjustments and have a good awareness out on the floor,” Smith said.
As a senior at Missouri, Smith averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the foul line in lifting the Tigers to the NCAA tournament. He was named to the All-SEC first team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season.
Smith is one of 19 members of the Heat's training camp roster. Individuals of Tri-State significance include Indiana University product Victor Oladipo and Kentucky product Ben Adebayo.
Every step he’s taken, Smith continues to improve.
“I just think it’s just been a combination of a lot of things over the years,” he said. “But mainly just continuing to work on parts of my game that need to be better.”
He said he’s always had a great support system – his wife, his family and all of his past coaches.
“And I’ve been lucky enough to have coaches who always tell me the truth and are constantly finding ways for me to improve,” Smith said. “They’ve all gotten me to this point and I’m very thankful for that.”
Edited by FIJItiger at 11:02:27 on 09/15/21
Dru Smith isn’t unheralded anymore.
An Indiana All-Star out of Reitz High School, Smith wasn’t super highly recruited and landed with the University of Evansville. He left because Marty Simmons was fired, transferring to the University of Missouri. Skeptics questioned just how much he could contribute.
However, once he began showing his quick hands and Basketball IQ with the Tigers, the Columbia Missourian labeled him the “hidden jewel of Evansville.”
All he did was become a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last winter. Smith, a modestly sized 6-foot-3, 203-pound guard, joined the Heat’s NBA Summer League team. Even Smith doubted he would make the Heat’s roster entering fall training camp.
But that’s exactly what he did.
“It definitely means a lot to me to have made it this far, but I still feel like I have a ways to go,” Smith told the Courier & Press. “It’s been a great experience, so far, and hopefully it’s just the beginning."
Terms of his contract with the Heat were not disclosed, per club policy.
“It’s a lot to explain as far as the contract goes and everything, but what I signed is called an Exhibit 10,” Smith said. “But basically it’s a training camp invite and then we go from there.”
Smith averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field for the Heat in six Summer League games. He recorded multiple steals three times and scored in double-figures twice, first an 11-point effort against the Lakers on Aug. 3 and then a 10-point performance against Dallas on Aug. 17.
Smith and his wife, Marley, are in their third week in Miami. Fall training camp starts on Sept. 28.
“I’m just continuing to work out here in preparation for training camp,” he said.
He has used his long arms, anticipation and intelligence to adapt to NBA competition.
“I think I’m definitely getting more used to the speed of the game as time goes on and I’m around a lot more and I think that stuff just helps me by allowing me to make adjustments and have a good awareness out on the floor,” Smith said.
As a senior at Missouri, Smith averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the foul line in lifting the Tigers to the NCAA tournament. He was named to the All-SEC first team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season.
Smith is one of 19 members of the Heat's training camp roster. Individuals of Tri-State significance include Indiana University product Victor Oladipo and Kentucky product Ben Adebayo.
Every step he’s taken, Smith continues to improve.
“I just think it’s just been a combination of a lot of things over the years,” he said. “But mainly just continuing to work on parts of my game that need to be better.”
He said he’s always had a great support system – his wife, his family and all of his past coaches.
“And I’ve been lucky enough to have coaches who always tell me the truth and are constantly finding ways for me to improve,” Smith said. “They’ve all gotten me to this point and I’m very thankful for that.”
Edited by FIJItiger at 11:02:27 on 09/15/21
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Dru Smith article - FIJItiger MU - 9/15 11:00:39