smith512

SoCal Hoops College Recruiting News

The LOI Has Finally Arrived:
Cal Signs Donte Smith--(May 12, 1998)

Donte Smith (6'-2" Sr. PG) from Anacostia High school, who originally committed to the Cal Bears several weeks ago, only to have his original letter of intent expire (they expire within two weeks of the date they are issued if not received by the school) has now re-signed, and Cal has received the letter. Cal still has one available scholarship to offer, and the Bears are pushing about as hard as they can for Dirk Nowitzki, from Wurtzburg, Germany, who will either sign with Cal or go pro.

Smith was last year's Washington, D.C., Player of the Year, and is considered to be one of the best points in the country. He averaged 28.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds as a senior; Anacostia had a 24-5 record and won the District title. He's a quick, scoring point, who can also jack up the three.

Cal's official press release had Ben Braun doing the usual laudatory stuff:

"Donte is a natural floor leader. He is a combination player who we project as a point guard. He not only is a very talented player, but he also plays hard. He makes plays and makes the players around him better. He's proven himself to be one of the top point guards in the country."

Smith is also the fourth player to sign with Cal this spring, joining 6-4 shooting guard Dennis Gates from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, 6-5 swingman Carl Boyd, who is transferring from Porterville College in California, and 6-11 center Solomon Hughes from Fork Union Military Academy in Virignia.

According to the Cal athletic site, Smith was rated the nation's No. 52 prep recruit by Bob Gibbons, and was rated No. 21 among points by The Sporting News. Smith signed with Cal after considering such schools as Clemson, USC, Boston College and Georgetown.

He's the third player to come to Cal from the Washington area in the past few years. Anwar McQueen played for the Bears from 1994-97 coming from St. Albans and Michael Gill, a junior currently at Cal is from Dunbar.