Vernon Smith (basketball)

Vernon Dean Smith (October 23, 1958 – July 7, 1992) was an American professional basketball player.

Vernon Smith

Smith with the Texas A&M Aggies
Personal information
Born	(1958-10-23)October 23, 1958 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	July 7, 1992(1992-07-07) (aged 33) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	David W. Carter (Dallas, Texas)
College	Texas A&M (1977–1981)
NBA draft	1981: 2nd round, 46th overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career	1982–1987
Position	Power forward
Career history
1982–1983	Las Vegas Silvers
1983	Albany Patroons
1983	Wisconsin Flyers
1983–1984	Pallacanestro Vigevano
1984–1985	Corona Cremona
1985–1986	RCD Espanyol
1986–1987	CEB Llíria
Career highlights and awards
3× First-team All-SWC (1979–1981) Second-team All-SWC (1978)
Stats at Basketball Reference

Playing career

Smith attended David W. Carter High School in his hometown of Dallas, Texas.^[1] He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies, where he was an All-SWC selection every season he played.^[2] Smith ranks second in total points scored for the Aggies.^[a][3] Smith was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 46th overall pick in the 1981 NBA draft but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Instead, Smith spent one season with multiple teams in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) before playing in Italy and Spain. In February 1982, Smith signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons but never played with the team.^[4] In October 1982, Smith was signed by the Indiana Pacers but was released later that month before the start of the 1982–83 NBA season.^[5]

Later life and death

After playing his final season in 1986–87 with CEB Llíria, Smith returned to his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He worked as a clerk at Sears and was a church organist.^[6]

Smith was fatally shot in a case of mistaken identity. He had been sitting in his car outside an Oak Cliff apartment block when a man, who had argued with a dice game opponent moments earlier, approached Smith and shot him.^[7]

Smith was inducted to the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.^[2]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1977–78	Texas A&M	27	–	28.4	.469	–	.609	8.4	.9	.6	.4	14.0
1978–79	Texas A&M	33	–	35.5	.479	–	.698	8.2	2.3	1.2	.4	16.0
1979–80	Texas A&M	32	–	34.5	.472	–	.744	7.5	1.3	.5	.4	14.8
1980–81	Texas A&M	27	–	34.4	.448	–	.729	9.0	2.1	.8	.4	14.8
Career		119	–	33.4	.468	–	.699	8.2	1.7	.8	.4	14.9

Notes

1. Smith held the record for total points scored until he was surpassed by Bernard King in 2003.

References

1. "Aggies all-time leading scorer shot and killed in Dallas". New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. July 9, 1992. p. 7. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
2. "Vernon Smith". Texas A&M University. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
3. "19–20 Record Book" (PDF). Texas A&M University. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
4. "BASKETBALL". The Record. February 7, 1982. p. 2.
5. "BASKETBALL". Statesman Journal. October 20, 1982. p. 10.
6. Guard, Sally (12 October 1992). "BRETT JOINS THE 3,000 CLUB...DURAN WANTS IRAN...GOODBYE TO TWO HISTORIC FIGURES". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
7. "Ex-Aggie Smith Shot to Death". Tulsa World. 9 July 1992. Retrieved 20 February 2020.

External links

• College statistics