Jo Smith, a 6-foot-10 forward from Chipola College by way of Crestwood Prep in Canada, has signed a grant-in-aid offer to transfer to Seton Hall University and play for the Pirates beginning in 2021-22, head coach Kevin Willard announced Thursday.
“We are excited that Jo has transferred to Seton Hall to join the Pirates family,” Willard said. “Jo is a player who we’ve known for years and watched his progression. He has a lot of untapped potential; he’s athletic and skilled and, coupled with his size and long wingspan, we believe he can be an integral player in our program. We’re looking forward to getting him into our skill development and training regimen and begin unlocking that potential.”
In his freshman season at Chipola, Smith played in 24 games with three starts and shot 65.9 percent from the floor. He also shot 72.7 percent from the free throw line (24-for-33) and averaged a rebound every 3.6 minutes played. The Selma, Alabama native played a key role in Chipola’s run NJCAA South Atlantic District Championship and an appearance in the NJCAA Final Four.
Smith had a standout showing at the 2019 NBA Players Association Top 100 camps where his frame and high ceiling was on full display. He attended the prestigious camp after helping lead Crestwood Prep, one of the top prep schools in Canada, to Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and National Preparatory Association titles in 2019.
Seton Hall most recently had success in the junior college transfer market with 7-2 center Romaro Gill, who joined Seton Hall in 2017 after playing his freshman season at Vincennes University. With the Pirates, Gill developed into the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and BIG EAST Most Improved Player after a breakout 2019-20 season in which he led the conference and finished third in the nation in blocks. Gill now plays professionally, having spent the 2020-21 season with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League and the Wellington Saints of the NBL in New Zealand.
Smith joins a loaded Seton Hall team that returns four of its top six scorers from last season, adds three other transfers who have combined for over 1,400 career Div. I points scored and brings in a top-25 rated freshman recruiting class that will help Seton Hall once again compete for another conference championship and NCAA Tournament bid.
(Release via Seton Hall)
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