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May 7, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE – University of Virginia men’s head basketball coach Pete Gillen has announced the signing of 6-5 guard/forward Devin Smith of New Castle, Del., to a national letter of intent with Virginia.

Smith averaged 19.4 points and 6.6 rebounds a game as a freshman at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan., during the 2001-02 season. He shot 51.8 percent (251-485) from the field, including 45.8 percent (108-236) from three-point range, and made 90.2 percent (129-143) of his free throw attempts. Smith also had 103 assists (2.7 apg.), 53 blocked shots (1.4 bpg.) and 48 steals (1.3 spg.). He led the team in scoring, field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made, free throw percentage and blocked shots.

Smith earned first-team Junior College All-America honors this past season and was an All-Tournament selection at the 2002 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament. He was Co-Most Valuable Player at the regional tournament and earned first-team All-Region honors. He was also named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference’s Most Valuable Player and Freshman of the Year.

Coffeyville Community College finished the 2001-02 season with an overall record of 36-2 and reached the championship game of the NJCAA Tournament.

Smith is a graduate of William Penn High School. He led William Penn to the state championship and was named Delaware Player of the Year in 2001.

“We are thrilled to have Devin Smith join our Virginia basketball family,” Gillen said. “Devin is a very talented wing player who can score in many ways. He was very well coached at Coffeyville Community College by Jay Herkelman and helped lead the team to the national championship game. Devin is a fine student, and he will be a great credit to the University of Virginia on and off the court.”

Smith is the second student-athlete to sign a national letter of intent with the Virginia men’s basketball program during the 2001-02 academic year. Derrick Byars, a 6-7 forward from Memphis, Tenn., signed a letter of intent with Virginia in November.

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