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.
DiedJuly 7, 1992(1992-07-07) (aged 33)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolDavid W. Carter (Dallas, Texas)
CollegeTexas A&M (1977–1981)
NBA draft1981: 2nd round, 46th overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career1982–1987
PositionPower forward
Career history
1982–1983Las Vegas Silvers
1983Albany Patroons
1983Wisconsin Flyers
1983–1984Pallacanestro Vigevano
1984–1985Corona Cremona
1985–1986RCD Espanyol
1986–1987CEB Llíria
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× First-team All-SWC (1979–1981)
  • Second-team All-SWC (1978)
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

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.[lower-alpha 1][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–.6098.4.9.6.414.0
1978–79 Texas A&M 33–35.5.479–.6988.22.31.2.416.0
1979–80 Texas A&M 32–34.5.472–.7447.51.3.5.414.8
1980–81 Texas A&M 27–34.4.448–.7299.02.1.8.414.8
Career 119–33.4.468–.6998.21.7.8.414.9

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.
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