SPRINGFIELD, MA- Jerry Smith has signed with the Springfield Armor’s NBA affiliate, the New Jersey Nets, making him the third Springfield Armor player to earn a GATORADE Call-Up this season, it was announced today. Smith becomes the fourth player in Armor history to earn a call-up and is among more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters.
Smith, a 6-2 guard acquired by the Armor in the fifth round of the 2010 NBA Development League Draft has had a stellar season in his second year in the NBA D-League that included a stint in New Jersey Nets’ training camp. In 32 games this season, 29 starts, Smith has averaged a team-high 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a team-high 1.9 steals in 34.5 minutes per game. Smith, the reigning NBA D-League Player of the Month, led the Armor to their best month in franchise history in February, averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals en route to an 8-0 record. Smith was also honored as a 2012 NBA D-League All-Star and was the league’s ‘Performer of the Week’ for games played Jan. 30-Feb. 5. He holds career NBA D-League averages of 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28.4 minutes per game through 78 games, 35 starts, over two seasons. Smith ranks in the top five in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes played in Armor history.
Prior to joining the Armor, Smith played four years at Louisville. He holds career averages of 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 138 games, including 111 starts. Smith’s Louisville teams made four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including back-to-back NCAA Elite 8 appearances in 2007 and 2008. The Cardinals also captured the 2009 Big East Tournament championship.
Smith is expected to join the Nets today and be available tonight when the team faces the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center.