ARLINGTON, Texas – Diante Smith, a 6-7 forward who spent the past season at Nicholls State, will join Head Coach KT Turner and the UT Arlington men's basketball program for the 2024-25 season.
 
During his lone season for the Colonels, Smith was named to the NABC All-District Second Team, All-Southland First Team, All-Louisiana First Team, Southland All-Tournament team and was named the Southland Conference Player of the Week two times (1/8/24 & 1/29/24) after appearing in 31 games, making 29 starts and averaging 16 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3 assists per game. His 16 points per game and 93 total assists led the team while his 192 total rebounds were second on the squad. Smith shot an impressive .421 from the floor, .394 from deep and .784 from the free throw line.
 
Before his time at Nicholls State, Smith spent two seasons at South Alabama. He utilized a redshirt season during the 2022-23 campaign. During the 2021-22 season, Smith appeared in 31 games, making 10 starts and averaged 27 minutes a game while posting 7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Smith registered double figures scoring in seven contests.
 
Before his time at South Alabama, Smith spent two seasons at TCU where he appeared in 35 games during his tenure in Fort Worth. During his freshman campaign in the 2019-20 season, Smith started in five games while appearing in 31 and averaged 12.9 minutes per game.
 
A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Smith attended Choctawhatchee High School where he earned All-State honors three times. Smith was rated a four-star player by 247Sports and was ranked the 122nd best player nationally, the 29th best small forward and the number 16th ranked prospect in the state of Florida. Smith averaged 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a senior (2018-19), 17.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a junior (2017-18) and 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game as a sophomore (2016-17).
 
Smith joins Jaden Wells, Jarren Cook, Raysean Seamster and Cameron Jackson as signees for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
 

 
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