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# Note #060: Darin Smith Jr. (Northeast Built)
- URL: https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-060-darin-smith-jr-northeast-built/
- Published: 2026-07-05T23:52:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-14T21:22:37.000Z
- Author: Lemmon Labs
- Tags: Transfer Portal, Darin Smith Jr., Notes, Cameron Boozer, Kevin Durant, J.J. Redick, AJ Dybantsa, Jordan Riley, PJ Haggerty, JT Toppin, Darius Acuff Jr., Jack Karasinski, Mike Daum, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Todd Day, Doug McDermott, Big Ten, #CCSU, #NEC, #Juke Harris, #Cameron Boozer, #AJ Dybantsa, #Shelton Williams-Dryden, #Nick Martinelli, #Jordan Riley, #Isaac Burns, #JT Toppin, #PJ Haggerty, #Labaron Philon, #Ebuka Okorie, #Darius Acuff, Jr., #Nick Boyd, #Lamar Wilkerson, #Kamrin Oriol, #Camren Hunter, #Jadin Booth, #Dominique Daniels Jr., #Nasir Whitlock, #Money Williams, #Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, #Michael James, #Jack Karasinski, #Josh Hubbard, #Matt Harpring, #Ike Smith, #Ryan Anderson, #Todd Day, #Grayson Allen, #Mike Daum, #Allan Houston, #Keegan Murray, #Malik Monk, #Kevin Durant, #Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, #Luke Babbitt, #Chris Mullin, #Bogdan Bliznyuk, #Marcus Brown, #David Kool, #Don MacLean, #Tony White, #Scott Skiles, #Luis Flores, #Sam Merrill, #Jodie Meeks, #Donald Sims, #J.J. Redick, #Jimmer Fredette, #Josh Alexander, #Dave Calloway, #Desmond Bane, #Killian Tillie, #Calbert Cheaney, #Doug McDermott, #Rutgers

Two-year Central Connecticut State University forward **Darin Smith Jr.**, the 2026 NEC Player of the Year, has transferred to Big Ten-member **Rutgers** for his **junior** 2026-27 season.

In **2025-26**, as a **sophomore** for the Blue Devils, Smith Jr. shined across **30** GP (32.6 MP/G). 

Let's look at his **scoring** and **rebounding**:

- **20.7** PPG
- **5.4** RPG

That season, **nine** NCAA Division I men's players besides **Smith Jr.** averaged **20.5+** PPG and **5+** RPG. The other **sophomore**:

[**Juke Harris**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-005-juke-harris-ray-allen-sophomore-leap/) \- 21.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG (35 GP, 35.1 MP/G)

And the **two freshmen**:  
  
1\. [**Cameron Boozer**](https://lemmonlabs/io/tag/cameron-boozer/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) \- 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG (38 GP, 33.4 MP/G)  
2\. [**AJ Dybantsa**](https://lemmonlabs.io/tag/aj-dybantsa/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) \- 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG (35 GP, 34.8 MP/G)

And for fun, the **three juniors** and **three seniors**:

**Seniors**  
1\. Shelton Williams-Dryden - 20.7 PPG, **9.1 RPG** (32 GP, 35.2 MP/G)  
2\. [**Nick Martinelli**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-054-nick-martinelli-upperclassman-evolution/) \- **23.0 PPG**, 6.2 RPG (33 GP, 35.6 MP/G)  
3\. [**Jordan Riley**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/jordan-riley/) \- **23.6 PPG**, 6.0 RPG (30 GP, **37.8** MP/G)  
  
**Juniors**  
1\. Isaac Burns - 20.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG (**20** GP, 30.9 MP/G)  
2\. JT Toppin - 21.8 PPG, **10.8 RPG** (**25** GP, 34.8 MP/G)  
3\. [**PJ Haggerty**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/pj-haggerty/) \- **23.4 PPG**, 5.3 RPG (31 GP, 35.2 MP/G)

If we remove **RPG**, just **one sophomore** besides **Smith Jr.** and **Harris** scorched for **20.5+** PPG in **2025-26** (min. 30 GP):

[**Labaron Philon**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-049-labaron-philon-freshman-sophomore-study/) \- 22.0 PPG (33 GP, 30.9 MP/G)

And the **two freshmen**, besides **Boozer** and **Dybantsa** above, to also rip off that **PPG** performance that season (still min. 30 GP):  
  
1\. [**Ebuka Okorie**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-040-ebuka-okorie-nashua-natural/) \- 23.2 PPG (31 GP, 35.1 MP/G)  
2\. [**Darius Acuff Jr.**](https://lemmonlabs.io/tag/darius-acuff-jr/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) \- **23.5 PPG** (36 GP, 35.1 MP/G)

And here are the **six juniors** (besides **Haggerty**) and **six seniors** (besides **Williams-Dryden**, **Martinelli**, and **Riley**) to also go similarly score-crazy that year:  
  
**Seniors**  
1\. Nick Boyd - 20.7 PPG (35 GP, 31.9 MP/G)  
2\. Lamar Wilkerson - 20.9 PPG (32 GP, 34.0 MP/G)  
3\. Kamrin Oriol - 20.9 PPG (32 GP, **35.7** MP/G)  
4\. Camren Hunter - 21.0 PPG (34 GP, 31.0 MP/G)  
5\. Jadin Booth - **21.6 PPG** (30 GP, **36.4** MP/G)  
6\. Dominique Daniels Jr. - **23.2 PPG** (33 GP, **36.3** MP/G)  
  
**Juniors**  
1\. Nasir Whitlock - 20.5 PPG (35 GP, 35.0 MP/G)  
2\. Money Williams - 20.6 PPG (34 GP, 31.2 MP/G)  
3\. [**Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-029-dra-gibbs-lawhorn-shooting-anomaly/) \- 20.7 PPG (35 GP, 34.1 MP/G)  
4\. Michael James - **21.4 PPG** (32 GP, **36.8** MP/G)  
5\. [**Jack Karasinski**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/jack-karasinski/) \- **21.7 PPG** (30 GP, **29.9** MP/G)  
6\. Josh Hubbard - **22.1 PPG** (32 GP, 33.3 MP/G)

**Toppin* is at the top of his game in:*  
[*Note #018*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-018-thomas-haugh-high-voltage-per-game-output/) *(Tyler Haugh) /* [*Note #038*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-038-cameron-carr-nba-combine-clinician/) *(Cameron Carr) /* [*Note #056*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-056-henri-veesaar-pro-floor-spacer/) *(Henri Veesaar)*

**Boyd*'s first bookmarked in* [*Note #035*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-035-aaron-nkrumah-g-league-elite-camp-elevator/) *on Aaron Nkrumah.*

*Roll call includes *Oriol*, *Wilkerson*, *James*, and *Hubbard* in* [*Note #055*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-055-mikel-brown-jr-lead-guard-gravity/) *on 2026 NBA Draft No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr.*

**Hunter* is on the prowl in the* [*Note #027*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-027-massamba-diop-zags-new-z-axis/) *on Gonzaga's new center Massamba Diop, and* [*Note #059*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-059-tounde-yessoufou-finding-his-tempo/) *on potential St. John's supernova Tounde Yessoufou.*

**Daniels Jr.* delights in* [*Note #040*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-040-ebuka-okorie-nashua-natural/) *on Ebuka Okorie, in addition to* [*Note #048*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-048-rafael-castro-versatile-four-five/) *on Rafael Castro.* 

**Whitlock*'s unlocked in the Nkrumah Note (*[*#035*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-035-aaron-nkrumah-g-league-elite-camp-elevator/)*), and* [*Note #058*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-058-bennett-stirtz-midwest-maestro/) *on OKC's 2026 first round selection Bennett Stirtz.*

*And *Money* is cash, as we know:* [*Note #045*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-045-otega-oweh-junior-senior-analysis/) *(Otega Oweh).*

---

🏀

Strap in for Smith Jr.'s ****sophomore shotmaking**:  
  
147/296 2P/2PA ****(49.7 2P%)**, 56/149 3P/3PA ****(37.6 3P%)**, 159/177 FT/FTA **(89.8 FT%)**  
  
****Smith Jr.** is the only NCAA DI men's player, since ****1980-81**, to shoot ****49.5+** 2P% (min. 295 2PA), ****37.5+** 3P% (min. 145 3PA), ****89.5+** FT% (min. 175 FTA) in a ****single** season!  
  
If we remove Smith Jr.'s lofty ****FT%**, there are ****eight** other ****sophomores** to meet the rest of the criteria:  
  
****440-500 FGA**  
1\. Matt Harpring (1995-96) - 167/303 2P/2PA ****(55.1%)**, 66/154 3P/3PA (39.6%), 138/181 FT/FTA  
2\. Ike Smith (2016-17) - 169/308 2P/2PA ****(54.9%)**, 61/154 3P/3PA (39.6%), 127/195 FT/FTA  
3\. Ryan Anderson (2007-08) - 166/313 2P/2PA (53.0%), 64/156 3P/3PA ****(41.0%)**, ****173/199 FT/FTA**  
4\. [****Todd Day**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/todd-day/) (1989-90) - 166/307 2P/2PA (54.1%), 71/176 3P/3PA (40.3%), 139/183 FT/FTA  
  
****500-550 FGA**  
5\. Grayson Allen (2015-16) - 149/297 2P/2PA (50.2%), ****90/216 3P/3PA** ****(41.7%), 211/252 FT/FTA**  
6\. [****Mike Daum**](https://lemmonlabs.io/tag/mike-daum/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) (2016-17) - ****195/344 2P/2PA** ****(56.7%), 79/189 3P/3PA** ****(41.8%), 251/289 FT/FTA**  
  
****550+ FGA**  
7\. Allan Houston (1990-91) - ****166/319 2P/2PA** (52.0%), ****99/231 3P/3PA (42.9%), 177/205 FT/FTA**  
8\. Keegan Murray (2021-22) - ****241/388 2P/2PA** ****(62.1%!)**, 66/166 3P/3PA (39.8%), 142/190 FT/FTA  
  
****Four freshmen** also qualified for the above (all of whom took more shots than any of the ****sophomores**):  
  
****555-600 FGA**  
1\. Malik Monk (2016-17) - 147/296 2P/2PA (49.7%), ****104/262 3P/3PA** (39.7%), 148/180 FT/FTA  
2\. [Darius Acuff Jr.](https://lemmonlabs.io/tag/darius-acuff-jr/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) (2025-26) - 197/388 2P/2PA **(50.8%)**, 91/207 3P/3PA ****(44.0%)**, ****178/220 FT/FTA**  
  
****600-700 FGA**  
3\. [****Kevin Durant**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/kevin-durant/) (2006-07) - ****224/444 2P/2PA** (50.5%), 82/203 3P/3PA ****(40.4%)**, ****209/256 FT/FTA**  
  
****700+ FGA**  
4\. [****Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf**](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/) (1988-89) - ****275/573 2P/2PA** ****(52.6%)**, ****84/216 3P/3PA** (38.9%), 163/200 FT/FTA  
  
****Monk** took and made the same amount of ****2s** as ****Smith Jr.** in their respective seasons.  
  
***Anderson** **and* **Monk** **appear in* [**Note #047*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-047-brayden-burries-backcourt-anchor/) *on top 10 2026 Draft pick Brayden Burries.*  
  
**It's a growing list for* ***Grayson** *:*  
[**Note #005*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-005-juke-harris-ray-allen-sophomore-leap/) *(Juke Harris) /* [**Note #049*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-049-labaron-philon-freshman-sophomore-study/) *(Labaron Philon) /* [**Note #053*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-053-nate-ament-simmering-suitors/) *(Nate Ament)*  
  
***Houston** *had it going in* [**Note #041*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-041-meleek-thomas-steel-city-sniper/) *on the "Steel City Sniper" Meleek Thomas and* [**Note #049*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-049-labaron-philon-freshman-sophomore-study/) *on Philon.*  
  
***Murray** *'s a Note merchant:*  
[**Note #005*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-005-juke-harris-ray-allen-sophomore-leap/) *(Harris) /* [**Note #054*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-054-nick-martinelli-upperclassman-evolution/) *(Nick Martinelli) /* [**Note #058*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-058-bennett-stirtz-midwest-maestro/) *(Bennett Stirtz)*

---

🏀 🏀 It's going to take a Lemmon Labs ****Triple-Double** Note to get through the rest of Smith Jr.'s ****2025-26** ****shooting**!  
  
Anyway, if we reinstate the ****FT%** floor and remove ****3s** entirely, ****three sophomores** (including ****Smith Jr.**) have met the ****2P** (49.5%+, 295+ 2PA) and ****FT** (89.5%+, 175+ FTA) baselines in a ****single** season. The other ****two**:  
  
1\. Luke Babbitt (2009-10) - 209/401 (52.1%), 199/217 FT/FTA ****(91.7 FT%)**  
2\. [Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/tag/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/) (1989-90) - ****217/416 2P/2PA** (52.2%), 191/210 FT/FTA ****(91.0%)**  
  
The ****two juniors** to qualify:  
  
1\. Chris Mullin (1983-84) - ****225/394 2P/2PA (57.1%)**, 169/187 FT/FTA ****(90.4%)**  
2\. Marcus Brown (1994-95) - 175/310 2P/2PA (56.5%), ****189/211 FT/FTA** (89.6%)  
  
And the ****five seniors**:  
  
****295-400 2PA**  
1\. David Kool (2009-10) - 158/316 2P/2PA (50.0%), ****209/233 FT/FTA** (89.7%)   
2\. Bogdan Bliznyuk (2017-18) - 220/389 2P/2PA ****(56.6%)**, 166/184 FT/FTA ****(90.2%)**  
  
****400-500 2PA**  
3\. Don MacLean (1991-92) - **223/437 2P/2PA** (51.0%), ****197/214 FT/FTA** ****(92.1%)**  
4\. Tony White (1986-87) - ****231/462 2P/2PA** (50.0%), 165/183 FT/FTA ****(90.2%)**  
  
****500+ 2PA**  
5\. Scott Skiles (1985-86) - ****331/598 2P/2PA** ****(55.4%)**, ****188/209 FT/FTA** (90.0%)  
  
Okay, now let's trade ****3s** for ****2s**: ****Smith Jr.** is the **only sophomore** since ****1980-81** to hit the ****3P** (37.5%+, 145+ 3PA) and ****FT** milestones!  
  
****Five juniors** accomplished those shooting lines:  
  
****145-200 3PA**  
1\. Luis Flores (2002-03) - 56/145 3P/3PA (38.6%), ****221/245 FT/FTA** (90.2%)  
  
****200-300 3PA**  
2\. Sam Merrill (2018-19) - 86/229 3P/3PA (37.6%), 189/208 FT/FTA (90.9%)  
3\. Jodie Meeks (2008-09) - ****117/288 3P/3PA** ****(40.6%)**, ****211/234 FT/FTA** (90.2%)  
4\. Donald Sims (2009-10) - ****123/288 3P/3PA** ****(42.7%)**, 175/184 FT/FTA ****(95.1%!!)**  
  
****300+ 3PA**  
5\. J.J. Redick (2004-05) - ****121/300 3P/3PA (40.3%)**, 196/209 FT/FTA ****(93.8%!)**  
  
Lastly, for fun, if we re-add ****FT**s but drop the floor **slightly* to ****89%**, and lower the ****2P** accuracy a **touch* to ****49%**, ****one** player besides **Smith Jr.** met this marginally-adjusted **2P/3P/FT** criteria set in a ****single** season:  
  
****Jimmer Fredette** (2010-11) - 222/452 2P/2PA **(49.1%)*, 124/313 3P/3PA (39.6%), 252/282 FT/FTA **(89.4%)*  
  
****Fredette** was a ****junior**, and not to mention the National Player of the Year, in the season above. And, of note, had ****320** more **FGA** and ****105** more ****FTA** than ****Smith Jr**.  
  
***Babbitt** *'s brilliance began in* [**Note #024*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-024-gavin-doty-siena-sophomore-ironman/) *on New Yorker Gavin Doty, while* ***Bliznyuk** *all-out blitzed* [**Note #039*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-039-kingston-flemings-royal-ascent/) *on Kingston Flemings.*  
  
***Mullin** *is must-see in* [**Note #049*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-049-labaron-philon-freshman-sophomore-study/) *on 2026 Draft first rounder Labaron Philon.*  
  
**And* **Skiles** *shows his skill in* [**Note #046*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-046-quadir-copeland-leader-of-the-pack/) *on Quadir Copeland, who has quantifiable game.*  
  
**You may find* ***Merrill** *in* [**Note #034*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-034-jaylin-sellers-college-scoring-showcase/) *on Jaylin Sellers, and* ***Meeks** *in* [**Note #058*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-058-bennett-stirtz-midwest-maestro/) *on former Drake/Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz.*  
  
***Redick** *rains/reigns in* [**Note #050*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-050-ryan-conwell-college-grand-slam/) *on Ryan Conwell's college grand slam, and the* [**Stirtz Note*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-058-bennett-stirtz-midwest-maestro/)**.*

---

⛹️‍♂️ Yessir! Another ****Quadruple-Double** Note!  
  
Anyway, in ****2024-25** as a ****freshman** at ****CCSU**, Smith Jr. shot:  
  
40/69 2P/2PA ****(58.0 2P%)**, 37/80 3P/3PA ****(46.3 3P%)**, 21/28 FT/FTA ****(75.0 FT%)**  
  
****One freshman** since ****1980-81**, besides ****Smith Jr.**, has made ****58+** 2P% (min. 65 2PA), ****46+** 3P% (min. 80 3PA), ****75+** FT% (min. 25 FTA):  
  
****Josh Alexander** (2005-06) - ****69/116 2P/2PA** (59.5%), ****73/153 3P/3PA** (47.7%), ****56/70 FT/FTA** (80.0%)  
  
There have been ****five sophomores** to also reach those ****2P/3P/FT** heights:  
  
****145-300 FGA**  
1\. Dave Calloway (1988-89) - 87/147 2P/2PA (59.2%), 48/82 3P/3PA ****(58.5%)**, 46/56 FT/FTA ****(82.1%)**  
2\. Desmond Bane (2017-18) - 86/141 2P/2PA (61.0%), ****59/128 3P/3PA** (46.1%), 64/82 FT/FTA (78.0%)  
  
****300-400 FGA**  
3\. Killian Tillie (2017-18) - 136/218 2P/2PA ****(62.4%)**, 45/94 3P/3PA (47.9%), 58/75 FT/FTA (77.3%)  
  
****400-500 FGA**  
4\. Calbert Cheaney (1990-91) - ****246/394 2P/2PA** ****(62.4%)**, 43/91 3P/3PA (47.3%), ****113/141 FT/FTA** ****(80.1%)**  
  
****500+ FGA**  
5\. [****Doug McDermott**](https://lemmonlabs.io/tag/doug-mcdermott/?ref=lemmonlabs.io) (2011-12) - ****253/400 2P/2PA** ****(63.3%)**, ****54/111 3P/3PA** ****(48.6%), 133/167 FT/FTA** (79.6%)  
  
***Bane** *rises in* [**Note #034*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-034-jaylin-sellers-college-scoring-showcase/) *on Jaylin Sellers's superb college shotmaking.*   
  
***Cheaney** *'s checked in twice before:*   
[**Note #017*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-017-drew-fielder-stretch-scoring-engine/) *(Drew Fielder) /* [**Note #054*](https://www.lemmonlabs.io/note-054-nick-martinelli-upperclassman-evolution/) *(Nick Martinelli)*

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Statistics via [Sports Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/?ref=lemmonlabs.io)

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