2026-27 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Darin Smith Jr.
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-7
- Weight:
- 210
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Springfield, MA
- High School:
- Vermont Academy (Springfield Central)
Smith Jr. arrives in Piscataway following a dominant campaign in which he was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year. He earned All-NEC First Team and All-ECAC First Team honors, while also being recognized as a USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week twice during the season. A five-time NEC Player of the Week and 12-time NEC Prime Performer, Smith totaled 621 points — the third-highest single-season scoring mark in CCSU history.
2025-26 Season at CCSU
- NEC Player of the Year
- All-NEC First Team
- All-ECAC First Team
- Preseason All-NEC Team
- Five-time NEC Player of the Week
- 12-time NEC Prime Performer
- USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week (Nov. 30, Feb. 17)
- NEC Academic Honor Roll (3.2+ GPA)
- Totaled 621 points in his sophomore campaign, the third-highest single-season total in program history
- Started all 30 games played, averaging 32.6 minutes; led the NEC and ranked 20th nationally with 20.7 points per game
- Added 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.7 steals per game
- Ranked 16th nationally with an 89.8 free-throw percentage, while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field
- Posted 18 games with 20-plus points, including three 30-point performances
- Recorded three double-doubles on the year (Dec. 13 at Binghamton, Jan. 10 at Le Moyne, and March 4 vs. Wagner)
Notable Performances
- Scored 40 points on 13-of-20 shooting at New Haven (2/12)
- Posted 38 points with four assists and five rebounds vs. Sacred Heart (11/24)
- Recorded 34 points and nine rebounds at Saint Francis U (1/17)
- Scored 29 points with 13 rebounds vs. Wagner (3/4) in the NEC Tournament
- Posted 24 points and 12 rebounds at Le Moyne (1/10)
- Recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds at Binghamton (12/13)
- Played at Jersey Mike's Arena last season, posting a game-high 21 points as the Blue Devils upset the Scarlet Knights, 67-54, on Nov. 21
2024-25 Season at CCSU
- Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team
- NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Rookie of the Week (Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Dec. 2, March 3)
- NEC Prime Performer (Nov. 18)
- Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll
- Played in 31 games, averaging 18.0 minutes with 6.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game
- Shot 51.7 percent from the field, including 75 percent from the free-throw line and 46.1 percent from three-point range
- Scored in double figures in eight games
Notable Performances
- Scored 23 points and made six three-pointers vs. Vermont State Johnson (Nov. 11)
- Grabbed seven rebounds vs. Wagner (3/1)
- Recorded three steals vs. UMass Lowell (12/1)
2023-24 Season at CCSU
- Redshirted; did not play
High School
- Team captain and NEPSAC AAA Honorable Mention honoree at Vermont Academy, where he played for head coach John Zall
- Totaled 500 points and 200 rebounds in two seasons as a starter, helping the team reach the NEPSAC AAA Quarterfinals
- Averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2022, then shot better than 42 percent from three-point range as a senior
- As a freshman, played at Springfield Central, helping the team go 22-1 and advance to the 2020 MIAA Division 1 State Final
Personal
- A consensus three-star transfer per 247Sports, ranked No. 400 overall and No. 84 at his position
- His favorite player, and the player he models his game after, is Kevin Durant
- Gameday shoe preferences include the Kobe 5 and Kobe 6
Coach Pikiell Remarks "Darin is a proven scorer who has done it at a high level and brings toughness, confidence, and experience to our program," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "He impacts the game in a lot of ways and fits the competitive mindset we're building here."
Player Remarks "Coach Pikiell and the staff just welcomed me in a great way and it all just happened so fast," Smith Jr. said. "We had a call, and I was on campus the next day, and it just felt like the right decision to play basketball in the state of New Jersey. It was my first and only visit, and a day I will never forget. I'm excited to play on their side this year, especially since the red jersey looks good on me."
