ASU Mid-South’s Smith earns top player nod

National NJCAA Player of the Week recognition a first for Greyhounds men’s hoops program

asumidsouthsports.com Greyhound forward Sam Smith has been named the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Player of the Week for the week of February 1-7. Smith is the first men's basketball player to garner the honor in the history of the program, and the second student-athlete for the school following former women's basketball star Kierra Adams who was named National Women's Basketball Player of the Week in January of 2014.

Smith, a 6'7' 240-pound freshman forward from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, led ASU Mid-South to a pair of victories last week as he notched 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 140-70 win over Central Baptist College JV and then finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in an 84-76 victory over Northeast Mississippi Community College, giving the Tigers their lone loss of the season. In addition, Smith shot a combined 16-for-22 from the field (72.7%), 3-for-6 from beyond the arc (50.0%), and 7-for-9 from the free throw line (77.8%). The Greyhounds (6-0) are currently ranked #4 in the latest NJCAA National Rankings released February 8. ASU Mid-South will be playing this season for their fifth Region 2 title in a row.