Gophers Announce Signing Of Guard Malik Smith
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – Guard Malik Smith has signed his tender to transfer from Florida International to Minnesota.
Minnesota announced the completion of the transfer on Monday. Smith is following coach Richard Pitino to the Golden Gophers. He averaged 14.1 points per game as a junior starter for FIU last season. He will be eligible to play right away because FIU will be banned from postseason play next season thanks to poor academic performance under previous coach Isaiah Thomas.
Smith hit 96 3-pointers last season. His average of 3.0 3s made per game ranked 16th nationally.
Smith joins guards Deandre Mathieu and Daquein McNeil as members of Pitino's first recruiting class at Minnesota.
Guard Joe Coleman has announced his intention to transfer and forwards Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe have graduated.
"It was a pleasure to coach Malik last season at FIU and I am excited that he has decided to join the Golden Gopher program," said head coach Richard Pitino. "His knowledge of our program on and off the court will be invaluable as we start to integrate our system here at Minnesota."
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