Javonte Smart

Javonte Dedrick Smart (born June 3, 1999) is an American college basketball player for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Javonte Smart
No. 1 – LSU Tigers
PositionPoint guard
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (1999-06-03) June 3, 1999
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolScotlandville Magnet
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
CollegeLSU (2018–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA U17 World Cup
2016 Spain National team

High school career

Smart attended Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and led the school to a state title as a freshman, earning MVP honors. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game. He participated in the Under Armour Elite 24 Showcase in August 2016.[1] As a junior, Smart averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He was named Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and led Scotlandville to a state title in 2017.[2] As a senior, Smart averaged 32.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, sometimes playing the center position. He led the team to a state title and was again named Player of the Year.[3] Smart was considered a five-star recruit and was ranked 21st in his class according to 247Sports.[2] Smart committed to LSU over offers from Kentucky and UCLA.[4]

College career

On February 23, 2019, Smart scored a career-high 29 points and hit two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining in a 82–80 win against Tennessee.[5] Smart missed one game during his freshman season, the regular season finale against Vanderbilt on March 7, after a report surfaced alleging coach Will Wade paid him during his recruitment. He returned for the SEC and NCAA Tournaments after officials found no wrongdoing on Smart's part.[6] As a freshman, Smart averaged 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. After the season, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but ultimately decided to return to LSU.[7] As a sophomore, Smart averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.[8] Following the season Smart declared for the 2020 NBA draft but maintained his eligibility.[9] Smart announced on August 3 that he was withdrawing from the draft and returning to LSU.[10]

National team career

Smart has represented the United States in FIBA play on two occasions. In 2015, he was a member of the gold medal-winning US team in the 2015 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.[11] Smart then won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain. [12] In the U17 tournament, Smart averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game.[13]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 LSU 341829.9.368.311.8393.32.41.3.111.1
2019–20 LSU 313034.2.415.326.8143.54.21.1.212.5
Career 654832.0.391.319.8283.43.21.2.111.7

Personal life

Smart is the son of Melinda Smart and Jerry Matthews. He has an older sister, Desiree, and a younger brother, Davyion. His cousin, Keith Smart has played and coached in the NBA.[11]

References
  1. Fambrough, Robin (August 4, 2016). "Scotlandville's Ja'Vonte Smart, Madison Prep's Josh Anderson to play in Elite 24 showcase". The Advocate. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. Fambrough, Robin (June 30, 2017). "Scotlandville point guard Ja'Vonte Smart, a five-star recruit, commits to LSU basketball". The Advocate. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. Fambrough, Robin (April 16, 2018). "Ja'Vonte Smart three-peats as state's Mr. Basketball". The News Star. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  4. "Scotlandville's Javonte Smart commits to LSU". WBRZ. July 1, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. Embody, Billy (February 23, 2020). "Javonte Smart's heroics help LSU knock off Tennessee". 247 Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  6. Just, Amie (May 19, 2019). "Javonte Smart withdraws from NBA Draft, returns to LSU". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  7. "He's back! Javonte Smart announces return to LSU basketball for sophomore season". The Advocate. May 18, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  8. Bibbins, Brett (February 18, 2020). "5 things to know about the LSU Tigers". Kentucky Sports Radio. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. Embody, Billy (April 27, 2020). "Javonte Smart declares for 2020 NBA Draft". 247 Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  10. Embody, Billy (August 3, 2020). "Javonte Smart to return to LSU for junior season". 247 Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  11. "Javonte Smart". USA Basketball. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  12. Roberts, Ben (February 28, 2017). "Visit for UK game shows No. 1 point guard has 'serious interest' in Cats". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  13. "Javonte Dedrick Smart". FIBA. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
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