Arkansas Lands Graduate Transfer Justin Smith

Mike Cawood June 11, 2020

FAYETTEVILLE – Former Indiana Hoosier forward Justin Smith will join the Arkansas men’s basketball program for the 2020-21 season as a graduate transfer, head coach Eric Musselman announced.

Smith is ranked 11th on TheStadium.com’s graduate transfers list and #21 on ESPN’s.

Justin Smith
6-7, 230, F
Buffalo Grove, Ill. (Indiana University / Stevenson HS)

Graduated in just three years from Indiana’s Kelley School or Business in the Spring of 2020 … Played in all of Indiana’s 98 games (with 73 starts) over the past three years … This past season, led the Hoosiers in steals (31) and minutes played (30.3 avg.) while ranking second in rebounding (5.2 avg.) and third in scoring (10.4 avg.) … In his three-year career, has scored 821 points with 419 rebounds, 64 assists, 60 steals and 35 blocked shots … Has four career double-doubles.

Junior (2019-20 at Indiana):
Started all 32 games … Led the team in steals (31) and minutes played (971) … Averaged 10.4 points and tied for second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game … Named IU’s athletic department’s Male Student-Athlete of the Month for January … Tied his career-high with 24 points and with a career-high three steals, adding seven boards, against Western Illinois … Notched 18 points and eight rebounds (five offensive) against Portland State … Scored a team-high 22 points in a win over Troy, making 8-of-9 field goals, both of his 3-point attempts and all four free throw attempts while tying a career-high with three steals … Finished with 18 points and eight boards against South Dakota State … Posted another solid effort with 14 points and five rebounds against Florida State … Logged a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards against Nebraska … Pulled down eight rebounds against Arkansas … Finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals against Northwestern … Posted a team-high 15 points with seven boards at Rutgers … Tallied 15 points , seven rebounds and two assists at Nebraska … Finished with 13 points and seven rebounds at Penn State … Only had six points with seven boards but was credited with playing lock-down defense against Iowa … Also played outstanding defense and with nine points, eight boards and two steals against Penn State … Had 12 points and six rebounds against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament.

Sophomore (2018-19 at Indiana):
Earned 2019 Academic All-Big Ten … Played in all 35 games and started 32 times … Fifth on the team averaging 8.2 points and third on the team averaging 4.5 rebounds … Added 22 steals … Pulled down nine rebounds at Penn State and versus Louisville and versus Michigan … Posted a season-high 15 points and added six boards at Purdue … Had two double-doubles for the season … The first was scoring 10 points and tying a career-high with 12 rebounds at Northwestern … The second was at Michigan – and perhaps his best overall game as a Hoosier – as he scored 13 points with 10 rebounds while adding two assists and three blocks, including a game-saving deflection with 3.4 seconds left on a layup … Recorded a career-high 24 points against Michigan State, hitting a career-best three 3-pointers … Had 15 points and seven boards at Illinois … Tallied a career-high three assists against Rutgers … Just missed another double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds against St. Francis in the NIT.

Freshman (2017-18 at Indiana):
Emerged as the top freshman to help the Hoosiers … Played in all 31 games and started 9 times … Averaged 6.5 points and shot 55.0% from the floor … Third on the team in scoring in Big Ten play, averaging 7.8 points … Shot 55.3% from the field in conference play … Notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Howard … Made his first career start at Seton Hall and had 10 points with four rebounds … Logged his second career start at Minnesota and finished with a season-high 20 points … Knocked in go-ahead triple in the closing minutes versus the Gophers … Finished with 13 points and three rebounds in 13 minutes against Illinois … Had 15 points and three rebounds at Iowa … Tallied 16 points and eight rebounds at Nebraska … Scored16 points against Ohio State.

Prep/Personal:
A 2017 graduate of Adlai Stevenson High School … Ranked No. 91 overall in the class by Rivals.com … As a senior, averaged 21 points and nearly 10 rebounds … Logged 16 double-doubles during his senior year … Received second team All-State for Class 4A by the Associated Press … Two-time Lake County Player of the Year by the Daily Herald … During his junior year, posted averages of 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists … Helped Stevenson to the Illinois state title as a sophomore … Played AAU basketball for the Mac Irvin Fire program … Son of Edward and Lucy Smith … Has two sisters, Devin and Meredith.

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