NBA Draft Blog Interview with Deville Smith

It’s not often that you find a player who suited up for four different basketball programs in four consecutive seasons, especially when it doesn’t involve discipline problems, but Deville Smith did just that. The 6’0 senior from Tennessee-Martin has had an interesting college basketball career, playing for three Division I programs, and not having to sit out at all as a transfer as many need to do.

Smith, a Mississippi native, started his career at Mississippi State playing for Rick Stansbury. He performed well in a limited role for a Bulldogs team that won 21 games and included Arnett Moultrie, Dee Bost, Renardo Sidney, and Rodney Hood.

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However, Stansbury was let go at the end of Smith’s freshman year, and Smith decided to look for a new program to play for. His next stop was at Southwest Mississippi Community College, but he was still looking to play again at the Division I level.

As a junior, Smith found a new home in Las Vegas playing for UNLV, where he stayed for one season before coming back east and finishing his career at Tennessee-Martin.

With his college career over, Smith has seen a definite change in himself because of his experiences. “I definitely matured through my college career, and I was lucky to have a good experience at all four schools,” said Smith. “I learned how to grow as a player and person, as well as how to adjust to different places and people.”

Smith arrived to UNLV in 2013, and there was a lot of hope that he could bring stability to the point guard position. Things didn’t work out as he or Coach Dave Rice had imagined, though he averaged almost 10 points and 3 assists per game, so the idea was put out there that Smith should probably look for another opportunity.

Rice’s associate head coach Heath Schroyer, who was integral in recruiting Smith to UNLV, had just taken the head coaching job at Tennessee-Martin, so Smith decided it was best to him to follow Schroyer and head back east.

The move worked, as Smith had his best college season, and Tennessee-Martin won 21 games after winning just 21 games total over the previous three years. The Skyhawks were eventually invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, where they lost in the semifinals to Evansville. Smith finished the season leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals.

With the season, and his college career over, Smith was happy with how the move worked out. “It really was great to be a part of such a great season,” said Smith. “I appreciated the chance to play, and the program should be in great shape going forward. The guys who are still there now know what it takes to win.”

The experience at Tennessee-Martin also taught him a lot more of his responsibility on the court. “I learned I had to be more of a role model, and what we were trying to accomplish was much bigger than us,” said Smith. “Learning how to interact with the younger guys helped me develop as a leader.”

Now, Smith is focused on the next step in his career, and he can point to some of his strengths which will make him attractive to pro teams. “My leadership on the court and ability to communicate with teammates will help me at the next level,” Smith explained. “Also my play on the defensive end should be able to help any team.”

As he prepares for the next step in his career, Smith says his main concern is to stay mentally focused on what’s ahead as he sharpens his skill on both ends of the floor. Still, he has a good idea of how he can contribute immediately for a team. “Giving a team a point guard who can transition between styles is important,” said Smith. “But really, whatever a team needs from me, I will do it.”

Smith is preparing and working out right now in Mississippi with his good friend Malik Newman. Newman, one of the top incoming college freshmen in the country, will attend Mississippi State next season, and Smith hopes he can help Newman make the state of Mississippi more prominent on the pro basketball radar, including a dream of one day bringing a pro franchise to the area.

No matter what happens along the way, Smith is eager to let teams know what he’s about. “I’m a humble, stand-up guy,” Smith said. “I want to be there to help a team in any way I can, and do what’s needed to win games.”

It’s been a long journey already for Smith, from Mississippi to Las Vegas to Tennessee in four years. He’s ready for the next stop along the path.

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