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Smith was born in [[Peoria, Illinois]]. He also attended [[Manual High School (Peoria, Illinois)|Manual High School]] in Peoria.<ref name=br>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithal01.html|title=Al Smith Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081221142255/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithal01.html| archivedate= 21 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Smith played basketball, football, and baseball at Manual, earning All-State honors in all three sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpshof.org/Inductees/smith.html|title=Al Smith – Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame|publisher=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225031615/http://www.gpshof.org/Inductees/smith.html| archivedate= 25 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> His baseball skill was such that the [[Chicago White Sox]] drafted him in the 7th round of the [[1965 Major League Baseball draft|inaugural Major League Baseball draft]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?year_ID=1965&round=7&draft_type=junreg|title=Baseball Draft: 7th Round of the 1965 June Draft|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=2008-12-14}} Note: Name spelled as Allan Smith in reference.</ref> Instead of signing with the White Sox, he opted to attend college.
Smith was born in [[Peoria, Illinois]]. He also attended [[Manual High School (Peoria, Illinois)|Manual High School]] in Peoria.<ref name=br>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithal01.html|title=Al Smith Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081221142255/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithal01.html| archivedate= 21 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Smith played basketball, football, and baseball at Manual, earning All-State honors in all three sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpshof.org/Inductees/smith.html|title=Al Smith – Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame|publisher=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225031615/http://www.gpshof.org/Inductees/smith.html| archivedate= 25 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> His baseball skill was such that the [[Chicago White Sox]] drafted him in the 7th round of the [[1965 Major League Baseball draft|inaugural Major League Baseball draft]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?year_ID=1965&round=7&draft_type=junreg|title=Baseball Draft: 7th Round of the 1965 June Draft|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=2008-12-14}} Note: Name spelled as Allan Smith in reference.</ref> Instead of signing with the White Sox, he opted to attend college.


He was given offers to attend [[University of Southern California|USC]] and [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]],<ref name=legends>{{cite book|title=Illinois: Legends of Illinois High School Basketball|last=Bell|first=Taylor|year=2006|publisher=Sports Publishing, LLC|isbn=1-58261-945-X|pages=63–66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tC2tOKqd3bQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22al+smith%22+peoria&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0}}</ref> but he chose to attend [[Bradley University]] as a basketball and baseball player. Smith spent four years at Bradley, though his time in college was interrupted by a two-year stint in the [[United States Army]].<ref name=bradley>{{cite web|url=http://www2.pjstar.com/index.php?/bradleysbest/article/al_smith |title=Bradley's Best: Al Smith |publisher=[[Peoria Journal Star]] |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2008-12-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715090902/http://www2.pjstar.com/index.php?/bradleysbest/article/al_smith |archivedate=2011-07-15 |df= }}</ref> As a college basketball player, he scored over 1,000 points for Bradley and was named first team All-[[Missouri Valley Conference]] in 1971 during his senior season.<ref name=bradley/> His college success was honored in 2004 when he was selected to Bradley's All-Century team.<ref name=legends/>
He was given offers to attend [[University of Southern California|USC]] and [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]],<ref name=legends>{{cite book|title=Illinois: Legends of Illinois High School Basketball|last=Bell|first=Taylor|year=2006|publisher=Sports Publishing, LLC|isbn=1-58261-945-X|pages=63–66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tC2tOKqd3bQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22al+smith%22+peoria&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0}}</ref> but he chose to attend [[Bradley University]] as a basketball and baseball player. Smith spent four years at Bradley, though his time in college was interrupted by a two-year stint in the [[United States Army]].<ref name=bradley>{{cite web|url=http://www2.pjstar.com/index.php?/bradleysbest/article/al_smith |title=Bradley's Best: Al Smith |publisher=[[Peoria Journal Star]] |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2008-12-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715090902/http://www2.pjstar.com/index.php?%2Fbradleysbest%2Farticle%2Fal_smith |archivedate=2011-07-15 |df= }}</ref> As a college basketball player, he scored over 1,000 points for Bradley and was named first team All-[[Missouri Valley Conference]] in 1971 during his senior season.<ref name=bradley/> His college success was honored in 2004 when he was selected to Bradley's All-Century team.<ref name=legends/>


==Denver Rockets==
==Denver Rockets==
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Before the 1974–1975 season, Smith was traded to the [[Utah Stars]] in exchange for a draft pick and cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/UtahMaterial/AmigosStarsYearly.html|title=Remember the ABA: Anaheim Amigos/Los Angeles Stars/Utah Stars Year-by-Year Notes|publisher=RememberTheABA.com|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081224163622/http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/UtahMaterial/AmigosStarsYearly.html| archivedate= 24 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In his first season with the Stars, he averaged a career-low eight points per game, while also averaging four-and-a-half assists per contest.<ref name=br/>
Before the 1974–1975 season, Smith was traded to the [[Utah Stars]] in exchange for a draft pick and cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/UtahMaterial/AmigosStarsYearly.html|title=Remember the ABA: Anaheim Amigos/Los Angeles Stars/Utah Stars Year-by-Year Notes|publisher=RememberTheABA.com|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081224163622/http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/UtahMaterial/AmigosStarsYearly.html| archivedate= 24 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In his first season with the Stars, he averaged a career-low eight points per game, while also averaging four-and-a-half assists per contest.<ref name=br/>


His second season with the Stars lasted only fifteen games before the Stars folded in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remembertheaba.com/Utah-Stars.html|title=Remember the ABA: Utah Stars|publisher=RememberTheABA.com|author=Roblez, Matt|accessdate=2008-12-14| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081218181640/http://www.remembertheaba.com/Utah-Stars.html| archivedate= 18 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> A persistent knee injury eventually ended his career after five seasons.<ref name=bradley/> He retired having scored over 3,200 points and having dished out over 1,700 assists.<ref name=br/>
His second season with the Stars lasted only fifteen games before the Stars folded in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remembertheaba.com/Utah-Stars.html |title=Remember the ABA: Utah Stars |publisher=RememberTheABA.com |author=Roblez, Matt |accessdate=2008-12-14 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218181640/http://www.remembertheaba.com/Utah-Stars.html |archivedate=18 December 2008 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> A persistent knee injury eventually ended his career after five seasons.<ref name=bradley/> He retired having scored over 3,200 points and having dished out over 1,700 assists.<ref name=br/>


==Post-basketball life==
==Post-basketball life==

Revision as of 11:14, 29 June 2017

Al Smith
Personal information
Born (1947-01-15) January 15, 1947 (age 77)
Peoria, Illinois
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolManual (Peoria, Illinois)
CollegeBradley (1966–1968, 1970–1971)
NBA draft1971: 11th round, 180th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career1971–1976
PositionPoint guard
Number10, 20
Career history
1971–1974Denver Rockets
1974–1975Utah Stars
Career highlights and awards
  • ABA assist leader (1974)
  • 2× first team All-MVC (1968, 1971)
Career ABA statistics
Points3,298 (9.8 ppg)
Assists1,793 (5.3 apg)
Rebounds865 (2.6 rpg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Alan Richard "Al" Smith (born January 15, 1947) is a retired basketball player who played for five seasons in the American Basketball Association. A point guard during his career, he played for the Denver Rockets and Utah Stars and once led the ABA in assists in a season.

Early life

Smith was born in Peoria, Illinois. He also attended Manual High School in Peoria.[1] Smith played basketball, football, and baseball at Manual, earning All-State honors in all three sports.[2] His baseball skill was such that the Chicago White Sox drafted him in the 7th round of the inaugural Major League Baseball draft in 1965.[3] Instead of signing with the White Sox, he opted to attend college.

He was given offers to attend USC and Notre Dame,[4] but he chose to attend Bradley University as a basketball and baseball player. Smith spent four years at Bradley, though his time in college was interrupted by a two-year stint in the United States Army.[5] As a college basketball player, he scored over 1,000 points for Bradley and was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1971 during his senior season.[5] His college success was honored in 2004 when he was selected to Bradley's All-Century team.[4]

Denver Rockets

In 1971, Smith was drafted by the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls in the 11th round of the NBA Draft;[6] previously, he was also drafted by the Bulls in the 10th round of the 1969 draft. He was also a 4th round draft pick of the American Basketball Association's Denver Rockets (now the NBA's Nuggets) in a separate draft.[7] Smith chose to sign with the Rockets, and he would go on to play for the club for three seasons.[1] In his first season, he served as the backup to point guard Larry Brown[8] while averaging nine points and three assists per game.[1]

Smith became the Rockets' regular point guard during the 1972–1973 season after Brown took a job as head coach. He scored a career-best eleven-plus points per game in his second season, while averaging five-and-a-half assists per game.[1] His scoring decreased slightly in the 1973–1974 season but he went on to average eight assists per game, and would lead the ABA in assists.[9]

Utah Stars

Before the 1974–1975 season, Smith was traded to the Utah Stars in exchange for a draft pick and cash.[10] In his first season with the Stars, he averaged a career-low eight points per game, while also averaging four-and-a-half assists per contest.[1]

His second season with the Stars lasted only fifteen games before the Stars folded in December.[11] A persistent knee injury eventually ended his career after five seasons.[5] He retired having scored over 3,200 points and having dished out over 1,700 assists.[1]

Post-basketball life

Smith went on to become a social worker in Denver, also working at a cable television supply company. For a year-and-a-half, he served as an assistant head coach at Manual High School, helping lead the school to two state championships. As of 2007, Smith was working in Paterson, New Jersey, as a school counselor.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Al Smith Statistics". Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Al Smith – Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame". Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Baseball Draft: 7th Round of the 1965 June Draft". Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-12-14. Note: Name spelled as Allan Smith in reference.
  4. ^ a b Bell, Taylor (2006). Illinois: Legends of Illinois High School Basketball. Sports Publishing, LLC. pp. 63–66. ISBN 1-58261-945-X.
  5. ^ a b c d "Bradley's Best: Al Smith". Peoria Journal Star. 2007-06-25. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "1971 NBA Draft". Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Bradley, Robert and John Grasso. "1967-1976 ABA Drafts". Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  8. ^ "1971–72 Denver Rockets Statistics". Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "1973–74 ABA Expanded Leaders". Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Remember the ABA: Anaheim Amigos/Los Angeles Stars/Utah Stars Year-by-Year Notes". RememberTheABA.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Roblez, Matt. "Remember the ABA: Utah Stars". RememberTheABA.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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