Deivon Smith
Deivon Smith’s basketball journey began at Grayson High School in Grayson, Georgia, where he played under coach Geoffrey Pierce. During his senior year, Smith showcased an impressive and complete game, averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 assists, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game. His high school performance earned him national recognition, being ranked 69th nationally and becoming the eighth ESPN top 100 prospect to sign with Ben Howland at Mississippi State. Smith’s college career led him to play for several universities. While specific details about his time at Mississippi State are not explicitly detailed in the provided excerpts beyond his signing, his statistics from other university stints are available. For example, in the 2021-22 season at Georgia Tech, he played 24 games, averaging 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. The following season, 2022-23, also at Georgia Tech, he again played 24 games, averaging 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. His offensive production from this period is not detailed here. Later in his college career, Smith transferred to Utah for the 2023-24 season, where his statistics indicate a significant role, playing 28 games and averaging 13.3 points, 7.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. He maintained a 46.7% field goal percentage and 67.7% free throw percentage during this season. For the upcoming 2024-25 season, he is scheduled to play for St. John’s, with projections of 30 games played, 9.3 points, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, with a 38.0% field goal percentage and 66.7% free throw percentage. Across all his Division I totals, spanning 139 games, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, with a 40.3% field goal percentage and 62.9% free throw percentage. As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, Deivon Smith has garnered considerable attention. Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, head coach of St. John’s, has been a vocal advocate, consistently praising Smith’s “elite athleticism and dynamic playmaking ability.” Pitino has described Smith as a “truly unique talent” and a “legitimate NBA talent,” indicating strong buzz surrounding the point guard. However, recent news also includes his brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks. On October 16, 2025, the Hawks waived Smith after signing him to a training camp contract days earlier. While his time with the NBA team was short-lived, the Hawks will retain his G League rights, making it likely that he will join the College Park Skyhawks, their G League affiliate, after the preseason. This move suggests that while he may not immediately make an NBA roster, he will have the opportunity to further develop his skills and make an impression in the G League, keeping his NBA aspirations alive.
