APSU Men’s Basketball signs Demarious Smith

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Men’s Basketball

Clarksville, TN – Demarius (D.D.) Smith watched his brother, Amius, star on defense for Austin Peay State University’s football team from 2008-11.

Now the younger Smith is hoping to bring that same defensive mindset to the Governors basketball team.

Smith, who played at Vincennes Junior College this past season after beginning his career at Lipscomb, has become the second announced Austin Peay basketball signee for the 2013-14 season. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining for the Governors.

“We have talked about changing the identity of this team, especially on the defensive end,” APSU coach Dave Loos said. “D.D. is a guy who we felt like we had to have. He brings a lot of toughness to the floor. He was the best perimeter defender I saw all year as we went through the recruiting process. He is absolutely a lockdown defender. He guards the other team’s best perimeter player every time out, whether it is a one, two or three.

“As I said he is terrific defender in his own right, but it is also his leadership on the defensive end, his communicating to the other players about screens and that he is there to help—just talking on the defensive end—that we also really like. He is just a guy who really gets it on the defensive and will lock you up.”

Smith averaged 3.3 points per game but was second on the team in assist (3.8 apg) for a Vincennes team that finished fourth nationally in the junior college tournament. He had nine assists in Vincennes’ second-round win against Howard at the national tourney. Vincennes is coached by Todd Franklin, a former Governors graduate assistant who is the brother of former APSU basketball star Greg Franklin.

As a redshirt freshman at Lipscomb in 2011-12, he averaged 5.2 ppg while starting 19 of 29 contests. He shot 45 percent from the floor while averaging 3.4 apg, second on the team. He scored in double figures three times, with a season-high 14 points against Stetson plus 11 in a road win at Belmont in early 2012. He also had four games with eight or more assists, including the Bisons home win against Austin Peay, Dec. 28, 2011.

“D.D. is a totally unselfish guy the way he plays basketball,” Loos said. “He sees the floor, finds the open man and really distributes the ball. He is a guy who thinks pass first and shot second, although I think he has the ability score more than he was called upon. He averaged more than 20 points per game at Kenwood and also proved he could score when he was at Lipscomb.”

Smith averaged 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals per game as a senior for John Stigall at Kenwood High School, leading the team to an 18-9 record. He was selected to play in the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee All-Star game.

A 1,000-point scorer for the Knights, Smith was named to the All-District 10-AAA team. He also was a McDonald’s All-American nominee as a senior.