Darin Smith Jr.
| No. 4 â Rutgers Scarlet Knights | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Personal information | |
Listed height | 6Â ft 7Â in (2.01Â m) |
Listed weight | 210Â lb (95Â kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, Vermont) |
| College |
|
| Career highlights | |
| |
Darin Smith Jr. is an American college basketball player for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the Central Connecticut Blue Devils.
Career
[edit]Smith attended Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont. Following his high school career, he committed to play college basketball at Central Connecticut State University.[1]
After redshirting during the 2023â24 season, Smith averaged 6.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game and was named to the Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team.[2] His production increased the following season, highlighted by a career-high 40-point performance in an 81â76 victory over New Haven.[3] Smith finished the 2025-26 season averaging 20.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, being named the NEC Player of the Year.[4][5] Following the conclusion of the season, he entered the transfer portal.[6]
On April 16, 2026, Smith announced his decision to transfer to Rutgers UniversityâNew Brunswick to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.[7][8]
Career statistics
[edit]| Â Â GP | Games played | Â Â GSÂ | Games started | Â MPGÂ | Minutes per game |
| Â FG%Â | Field goal percentage | Â 3P%Â | 3-point field goal percentage | Â FT%Â | Free throw percentage |
| Â RPGÂ | Rebounds per game | Â APGÂ | Assists per game | Â SPGÂ | Steals per game |
|  BPG | Blocks per game |  PPG | Points per game |  Bold | Career high |
College
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024â25 | Central Connecticut | 31 | 1 | 18.0 | .517 | .463 | .750 | 3.0 | .4 | .5 | .2 | 6.8 |
| 2025â26 | Central Connecticut | 30 | 30 | 32.6 | .456 | .376 | .898 | 5.4 | 1.2 | .7 | .2 | 20.7 |
References
[edit]- â "Smith Jr Picks Central Connecticut State". newenglandrecruitingreport.com. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â "Crowned In Blue: CCSU's Jordan Jones is the NEC Men's Basketball Player of the Year". necsports.com. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â Gullo, Rob (February 13, 2026). "CCSU's Smith Jr. continues breakout season with career-high 40 piece against New Haven". New Britain Herald. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â Press, Herald (March 4, 2026). "CCSU's Smith Jr. gives Blue Devils second-straight NEC Player of the Year". The Bristol Press. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â "Reigning NEC Player of the Year among additions to Rutgers". www.onnj.com. May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â Gullo, Rob (March 16, 2026). "NEC Player of the Year, CCSU star Smith Jr. enters transfer portal". The Bristol Press. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â Carino, Jerry. "Rutgers basketball adds Darin Smith, high-scoring transfer wing". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- â Mertz, James (April 16, 2026). "Rutgers men's basketball lands commitment from forward Darin Smith Jr". The Daily Targum. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
